Lumbosacral plexus injury

Need to know

• What are the symptoms of a lumbosacral plexus injury? icon plus

  There are several causes of lumbosacral plexus injury. These include forceful impact such as an accident, prolonged labour in childbirth, cancer, diabetes and autoimmune disease. Some cardiac procedures may also cause nerve damage.

  The main symptoms of lumbosacral plexus injuries are:

  • Pain in the low back and buttocks, spreading down the leg
  • Sensory changes to the top of the foot
  • Weakness in the outer thigh muscles
  • Deep pelvic pain which spreads down the front of the thigh
  • In diabetics, symptoms start in the thigh and hip, notably pain and extreme weakness.

• How is lumbosacral plexus injury diagnosed? icon plus

  Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and help make a diagnosis. They will ask you about your medical history (whether you're a person with diabetes for example) and whether you've experienced any recent trauma to the pelvis.

  They may order an MRI scan or CT scan to locate where the nerve fibres are being compressed. They may also want to rule out injuries with similar symptoms. MRI scans and CT scans should be considered if a structural mass is suspected in the pelvic region.

• Potential treatment options icon plus

  Lumbosacral plexopathy is treated according to the cause. It can sometimes be managed through a mix of physiotherapy and painkillers. Corticosteroids often help where diabetes is the cause.

  Nerve blocking injections, delivered into the lumbosacral plexus by ultrasound, can also be an effective treatment. These numb the injured nerves, stopping pain reaching the limb.

  Finally, surgery can also help. Damaged nerves are reconnected using nerve grafts taken from other parts of the body. The nerve acts as a tube or cable, guiding the nerve fibres until they grow across the gap.