2006 OITE Question 223

Question

What nerve is most likely to be injured in the establishment of an anterior portal during hip arthroscopy?

1- Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve

2- Superior Gluteal

3- Inferior Gluteal

4- Femoral nerve

5- Sciatic nerve

Figures

Answer (click for answer)

The correct answer: 1

The way to think about this question is as follows: the desired portal is anterior, therefore it is unlikely that a posterior structure will be injured. Therefore, answer choices 2,3 and 5 can be eliminated (the Superior Gluteal nerve may be at risk with an improperly placed anterolateral hip portal, but not an anterior portal). The anterior portal for hip arthroscopy is placed at the intersection of a line drawn down from the ASIS and a line drawn across from the tip of the greater trochanter. The femoral nerve is less likely to be injured since it is considerably medial to this intersection point. A branch of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is at risk when creating this anterior hip portal.

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