What are the symptoms of obturator nerve damage?
Muscle weakness in your thigh. Numbness in your thigh. Pain that gets worse with side-to-side leg movements. Sensation of pins and needles in your groin.
What does the obturator nerve affect?
The obturator nerve (L2–L4) supplies the pectineus; adductor (longus, brevis, and magnus); gracilis; and external obturator muscles. This nerve controls adduction and rotation of the thigh. A small cutaneous zone on the internal thigh is supplied by sensory fibers.
How do you treat obturator nerve pain?
Obturator Nerve EntrapmentAbove: Therapist performing soft tissue massage to the groin muscles.Above: Soft tissue massage of the muscles and connective tissues around the groin by an experienced therapist.Above: Progressive strengthening hip exercises supervised by experienced therapist.More items...
What happens when the obturator nerve is stimulated?
Electrical stimulation of the nearby obturator nerve during electroresection of lateral wall tumors can result in a powerful adductor spasm of the leg known as an “obturator jerk”. An obturator jerk during TURBT greatly increases the risk of bladder perforation.
What causes obturator pain?
Entrapment of the obturator nerve causes exercise-induced medial thigh pain, typically in athletes. Athletes may present with pain that may be brought on by exercise, often sports involving a lot or running and twisting. Hip abduction and extension aggravate the pain, and resisted adduction does not elicit pain.
Which muscle is partially paralyzed with the obturator nerve damage?
The nerve has no sensory function. Partial or complete paralysis affects the adductor muscles, with consequent loss of function.
How do you test the obturator nerve?
Currently, an obturator nerve injury is diagnosed via physical examination and imaging studies [including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or ultrasonography]. However, these techniques are not always effective in detecting nerve injuries (1).
How do you release an obturator muscle?
2:176:43Releasing the Obturator Internus Muscle and Other Deep Hip RotatorsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAround the inside of my sit bone. And oftentimes you'll find that this area is tender and tight soMoreAround the inside of my sit bone. And oftentimes you'll find that this area is tender and tight so you can take your hand. And kind of find move it back and forth in this direction.
Why does my groin and inner thigh hurt?
A groin strain is an overstretch or tearing injury to the muscles of the inner thigh or front of the hip. Groin strains make walking, lifting the knee, or moving the leg away from or toward the body difficult and painful. Groin strains can occur from overuse of the muscles, or from a sudden contraction of the muscles.
Does a spinal block the obturator nerve?
Spinal anesthesia does not reliably prevent the obturator reflex. Regional anesthesia is another potential treatment modality to prevent the obturator reflex during TURBT.
What nerve runs from groin to foot?
The femoral nerve is located in the pelvis and goes down the front of the leg. It helps the muscles move the hip and straighten the leg. It provides feeling (sensation) to the front of the thigh and part of the lower leg.
What nerve causes groin pain?
Ilioinguinal nerve pain This nerve can be damaged or pinched after hernia surgery. Generally, people experience sharp, throbbing, or burning pain in the inguinal or inner groin. It can be confused with osteitis pubis.
Where does the obturator nerve travel?
After its formation in the lumbar plexus, the obturator nerve travels down through the psoas major muscle, which runs diagonally from the mid-spine to the pelvic bone, and exits from the muscle's inner edge. It then runs along the common iliac artery and across the pelvic wall.
What causes entrapment in the obturator canal?
Entrapment in the obturator canal. Compression caused by pregnancy or pelvic tumors. Trauma caused by childbirth. Sports that involve a lot of running and/or twisting of the leg. Symptoms of obturator nerve damage include: Numbness, reduced sensation, or abnormal sensation in the skin of the inner thigh.
What nerve is responsible for leg movements?
Rehabilitation. The obturator nerve is a major peripheral nerve in your thigh. It's responsible for some leg movements (motor function) as well as sensation (sensory function). This nerve is formed by portions of the lumbar plexus, which is a complex network of nerves that emerge from the lumbar region of the spine, which is in your lower back.
What is the nerve that divides into anterior and posterior branches?
There, the nerve divides into its anterior and posterior branches. The anterior division continues its downward course toward the femoral artery, innervating these inner-thigh muscles: The anterior division then pierces a connective tissue called the fascia lata, which is deep in the thigh.
What is the skin over the adductor muscle?
Hip joint. Knee joint. Some of the skin over the adductor muscles in the inner thigh. The skin innervated by this branch is a small patch high up on the leg. The rest of the skin in that area is supplied by the anterior cutaneous branches of the femoral nerve.
Which muscle is the fan-shaped muscle that runs from the neck of the femur (thigh bone)
At that point, it becomes the cutaneous branch . Meanwhile, the posterior division moves down through the obturator externus muscle, a fan-shaped muscle that runs from the neck of the femur (thigh bone) across the back of the pelvic bone. It then continues on and innervates two more inner thigh muscles:
Which nerve innervates the pectineus muscle?
In rare cases, the anterior division of the obturator nerve provides motor function to the pectineus muscles, which is typically innervated by the femoral nerve. Anatomy of the Femoral Nerve.
What is the function of the obturator nerve?
Function. The obturator nerve is responsible for the sensory innervation of the skin of the medial aspect of the thigh . The nerve is also responsible for the motor innervation of the adductor muscles of the lower limb ( external obturator. adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis) and the pectineus (inconstant).
Where is the obturator nerve located?
The obturator nerve in human anatomy arises from the ventral divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves in the lumbar plexus; the branch from the third is the largest, while that from the second is often very small.
Where does the obturator nerve begin?
The obturator nerve begins at the medial border of the psoas major muscle. It travels through the obturator foramen (an opening in the pelvic bone) before entering the thigh, where it branches into two parts, an anterior branch and posterior branch. The obturator nerve is part of the group of nerves called the anterior lumbar plexus.
What nerve is responsible for the abductor muscles?
The obturator nerve is part of the group of nerves called the anterior lumbar plexus. The nerve provides sensory perception to the skin on the medial side of the thigh. It also provides motor function to the hip and knee joints and the abductor muscles and gracilis. The obturator nerve can be damaged through injury to the nerve itself ...
Can a damaged obturator nerve cause pain?
A damaged obturator nerve can cause pain, numbness, and weakness of the thigh. Mild damage to the obturator nerve can be treated with physical therapy. More severe cases may require surgery. The nerve has the ability to regenerate itself at a rate of about one inch per month. Last medically reviewed on January 21, 2018.
Where does the obturator nerve come from?
The obturator nerve arises from the lumbar plexus on the posterior abdominal wall and descends within the psoas muscle, emerging from the medial margin of the muscle to enter the pelvis. The nerve path continues by following along the lateral wall of the pelvis, passing through the obturator canal, to enter the medial compartment of the thigh.
Which muscle is innervated by the anterior branch of the adductor brevis muscle?
On the anterior surface of the adductor brevis muscle the anterior branch travels underneath the pectineus and adductor longus muscles to innervate the adductor longus, gracilis, and adductor brevis muscles. This branch also often contribute to the pectineus muscle. The cutaneous branches innervate the skin on the medial thigh.
Which muscle is the anterior and posterior branch of the adductor?
From here the nerve divides into the anterior and posterior branch which are separated by the adductor brevis muscle . The posterior branch travels underneath the adductor muscle along the anterior surface of the adductor magnus muscle, innervating the obturator externus, adductor brevis, as well as part of the adductor magnus muscle ...
Can a obturator nerve be damaged?
Injury to the nerve is rare as it lies deep within the pelvis and medial thigh. It can be damaged through direct injury to the nerve or to surrounding muscle tissue. Mild damage to the obturator nerve can be treated with physiotherapy. More severe cases may require surgery.
What is the obturator nerve?
The Obturator Nerve. The obturator nerve is a major peripheral nerve of the lower limb. In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the obturator nerve – its anatomical course, functions and clinical correlations.
Where does the obturator nerve travel?
It then travels posteriorly to the common iliac arteries and laterally along the pelvic wall – towards the obturator foramen of the pelvis.
What nerve is in the middle of the thigh?
The cutaneous branch of the obturator nerve supplies the skin of the middle part of the medial thigh. The obturator nerve can be damaged during surgery involving the pelvis or abdomen. Symptoms include numbness and paraesthesia on the medial aspect of the thigh and weakness in adduction of the thigh.
What nerve innervates the hamstring?
Motor Functions. The obturator nerve innervates all the muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh - except the hamstring part of the adductor magnus (innervated by the tibial nerve). They are collectively known as the hip adductors: Adductor longus - adducts thigh.
What is the anterior division of the adductor?
Anterior division (anterior to the adductor brevis): Descends in a plane between the adductor longus and adductor brevis (towards the femoral artery). Here, it supplies motor fibres to the adductor longus, adductor brevis and gracilis. It can also supply the pectineus muscle.
Which nerve pierces fascia lata?
It then pierces the fascia lata to become the cutaneous branch of the obturator nerve. Pierces the obturator externus muscle, and then descends in a plane between the adductor brevis and adductor magnus. Innervates the obturator externus and adductor magnus muscles.
Which nerve innervates the medial thigh?
The obturator nerve innervates all the muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh – except the hamstring part of the adductor magnus (innervated by the tibial nerve). Fig 4 – Muscles of the medial thigh. The overlying muscles in the anterior compartment have been removed.
Where does the obturator nerve originate?
The obturator nerve originates from the anterior division of the ventral rami of the second, third, and fourth lumbar spinal nerves within the psoas major muscle. The obturator nerve results from the unification of the rami and descends through the psoas muscle to emerge from its medial border at the pelvic brim.
Why does my obturator hurt?
Obturator neuropathy is a difficult clinical problem to evaluate. One possible cause of pain is due to fascial entrapment of the nerve. Symptoms include medial thigh or groin pain, weakness with leg adduction, and sensory loss in the medial thigh of the affected side. Radiographic imaging provides limited diagnostic help.
Can a mononeuropathies of the obturator nerve cause pain?
Summary. Mononeuropathies of the obturator nerve are rare. Athletes will present with pain, weakness in leg adduction, and sensory loss over a small area in the medial thigh sometimes just with exercise or exacerbated after exercise.
Can an obturator nerve be injured?
The obturator nerve is rarely injured in isolation. Several authors have described injury to the nerve following surgery, hemorrhage, or tumor compression [11–25]. However, for the purpose of this article, the discussion will be limited to sports-related injuries.
Can an MRI detect fibro osseus?
MRI may detect atrophy in the adductors of the leg. However, it is unable to detect any abnormality of the nerve or in the fibro-osseus tunnel. The best test for diagnosis is by electromyography (EMG) and can be confirmed by a local nerve block.
Can obturator neuropathy be treated with conservative therapy?
Therefore athletes with diagnosed obturator neuropathy should try only a limited course of conservative therapy. Sorenson et al. stated that patients with acute onset of obturator neuropathy had good recovery with conservative management.
