Femoral nerve palsy following kidney transplantation: A case report and review of the literature

Introduction Femoral nerve palsy is a rare but serious complication of kidney transplantation. We report a case of femoral nerve palsy following kidney transplantation and conduct a review of the literature on this complication. Case presentation A 35-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease, underwent kidney transplantation in the right iliac fossa. The day after the transplantation, she could not straighten her right leg. Physical examination revealed a paresis of her right quadriceps muscle. The patient's sensation of her right thigh was also impaired. We diagnosed her with femoral nerve palsy caused by inappropriate compression from a self-retaining retractor. Rehabilitation was started immediately. The patient's motor weakness gradually improved, and the patient became able to walk independently 4 weeks later. However, the patient's neuropathic pain sustained 6 months after her kidney transplantation. Conclusion The improper use of self-retaining retractors can lead to femoral nerve palsy in patients undergoing kidney transplantation.