Injury to the lumbar nerve plexus

For the lower extremities, the sciatic nerve is one of the most important nerves ensuring the motor and sensory functions of almost the entire lower extremity.
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body, starting from the spine and running to the tips of the toes, so it governs the activities of the relevant parts in the nerve path.
The sciatic nerve is made up of many nerve roots including, L4, L5, S1, S2 and S3 roots and these 5 nerve roots all belong to a structure called the lumbar plexus, going from lumbar region down to the toes.
Lumbar plexus is located along both sides of the lumbar spine and in front of the transverse vertebral process, the lumbar plexus runs in front of the lumbar square muscle.
The main function of the lumbar nerve as well as the lumbar plexus is to control the movements of the legs, to control the performance of movements such as flexing, extending the knee, sitting up, flexing the foot, coordination of movement of the legs.
Besides movement, the lumbar plexus also has a sensory function, helping the lower extremities of the body to have different shallow and deep sensations.

Injury to the lumbar nerve plexus is a common clinical disease, related to a number of pre-existing health conditions of the patient such as diabetes, cancer, bleeding disorders. , trauma... Injury to the lumbar nerve plexus often begins suddenly, causing the patient to feel pain as well as other symptoms of sensory damage.
Clinically, some main features often appear in patients with lumbar nerve plexus injury, which are:
Patient has pain, numbness in the lumbar region, spreading to the legs, may have tingling sensations. Weakness of lower extremities, decreased coordination of lower extremities motor function Muscle spasms Decreased sensation in lower extremities, lower extremity tendon reflexes are positive On examination, the Lasegue sign is positive To confirm a patient's diagnosis with certainty If there is damage to the lumbar plexus or not, it is necessary to conduct a number of paraclinical techniques including:
Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging: this is one of the meaningful and valuable subclinical methods. highest level in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to the lumbar nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar region helps to survey the lesions appearing in the spine, spinal cord...

Computed tomography and myelogram are often used in patients unable to undergo magnetic resonance imaging. Electromyography and nerve conduction velocity testing techniques allow to know information about nerve roots, lumbar plexus, making a great contribution to the differential diagnosis between plexus lesions. Lumbar nerve with other peripheral neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve compression disease... Some other tests are also indicated in patients with suspected nerve plexus injury. lumbar puncture such as total peripheral blood cell analysis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, HLA - B27, blood biochemistry... Some pathologies that need to be differentially diagnosed with lumbar plexus injury are: :
Lumbar sclerosis Lumbar bursitis Inflammation of spinal muscles Infective arthritis

For the treatment of diseases related to lumbar nerve plexus damage, the patient will be able to reduce pain, reduce inflammation and accompanying symptoms, and then be treated according to the cause by: Methods such as surgery to decompress lumbar nerve, treat muscle contractions and restore related injuries.
However, diseases related to the lumbar nerve tend to be very recurrent, so it is necessary to have a reasonable diet and exercise regimen as prescribed by the treating doctor.
Injury to the lumbar plexus is an important disease that patients as well as physicians should not ignore in clinical, because the lumbar nerve is closely related to the mobility and sensation of the region. lower limb.
Therefore, the treatment of lumbar nerve plexus injury must also meet the problem of finding and solving the cause of the disease, avoiding to the maximum extent the disease recurrence as well as unwanted complications. disease, affecting the patient's quality of life.