Anatomic variations in the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve with respect to pediatric hip surgery.

Variations were documented in the course of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) in the upper thigh relative to anatomic landmarks in 22 adult cadavers using the Smith-Petersen incision for the anterior approach to the hip. Distances from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the point of nerve entry into the thigh were normalized as percentages of the distance from the ASIS to the pubic tubercle (PT) to relate the data to small children. In all cases, the LFCN passed deep to the inguinal ligament, entering the thigh a mean of 2.