Retroperitoneal hematoma presenting as acute meralgia paresthetica: Case report, review of literature and cadaveric demonstration

Introduction: Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma is a relatively rare condition that usually occurs in patients receiving anticoagulation therapy or those with a history of hemophilia. The presentation may vary from mild abdominal discomfort to acute hemodynamic collapse. Given the potential for exsanguination, it is important to detect this potentially life-threatening condition early for appropriate management. Case Report: In this report, we discuss an uncommon presentation of a retroperitoneal hematoma in which the patient initially sought treatment for thigh and ankle pain related to a recent minor trauma. During the course of her evaluation over several days, a diagnosis of acute meralgia paresthetica was entertained and treated with relief of her symptoms. However, an evolving retroperitoneal hematoma was subsequently identified as the cause of her condition. Conclusion: Physicians should be aware of this seemingly benign presentation of a life-threatening retroperitoneal Jibanananda Satpathy1, Varatharaj Mounasamy2, Gregory Golladay3, James Phillip Reynolds4 Affiliations: 1MD, Assistant Professor, Orthopedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; 2MD, Associate Professor, Director of Orthopedic Trauma, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; 3MD, Associate Professor, Orthopedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; 4BS, Medical Student, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States. Corresponding Author: Jibanananda Satpathy, 417 North 11th Street, Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298; Email: [email protected] Received: 22 August 2016 Accepted: 09 September 2016 Published: 16 November 2016 hematoma to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment as described in this report.