Concealed Cause of Lumbosacral Plexopathy

John Jackson; Jason Webb; Ewan Bigsby

Concealed Cause of Lumbosacral Plexopathy

Year 2017, Volume: 8 Issue: 4, 69 - 72, 01.10.2017

Abstract

Introduction: Lumbosacral plexopathies are rare in patients who present to both primary care and the accident and emergency departments. Presenting symptoms are often non-specific, such as lower back pain, sciatica, or pelvic pain, making diagnosis difficult. Furthermore, there are numerous and diverse causes of lumbosacral plexopathy.Case Report: We present a case of a previously well 27-year-old female who presented to the accident and emergency department with hip pain, difficult walking, and altered sensation in her leg. She was referred to the orthopedic team, where magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested that necrotizing fasciitis was a possible diagnosis because of abundant edema and muscle swelling and thus subsequently underwent surgical exploration. Following subsequent investigation, her symptoms and MRI features were determined to be a result of lumbosacral plexopathy secondary to immobility with rhabdomyolysis.Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of a robust initial clinical history accompanied with appropriate investigations to elicit an accurate diagnosis and also discusses lumbosacral plexopathies in general

Keywords

Lumbosacral, plexopathy, plexus, rhabdomyolysis

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