ABSTRACT
Nerve entrapments are a potential cause of lower extremity pain in athletes. A delay in diagnosis can lead to worsening of symptoms, inferior athletic performance, missed competition, and delayed return to sport. The main clinical feature of patients with femoral nevre entrapment is quadriceps muscle weakness and numbness and paresthesias in the anterior thigh and areas supplied by the saphenous nevre. Clinical presentation of saphenous neuropathy may range from minimal sensory loss in the medial lower leg to severe neuropathic pain. The physical examination may reveal an abnormal neurologic examination finding in the distribution of a peripheral nerve, positive nerve provocative testing, and positive Tinel sign over the area of entrapment. Electrodiagnostic studies, radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging studies, and ultrasonographic evaluation may asist with the diagnosis. Femoral and saphenous nerve entrapments are usually treated with conservative methods, including pain management medications, nerve blocks, and rehabilitation. When conservative treatment is ineffective at relieving symptoms associated with nerve entrapment, surgical treatments with neurolysis or neurectomy may be considered.

Keywords: Athletes; femoral neuropathy; nerve entrapments