The Iowa orthopaedic journal
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Comparative Study
Intraoperative femoral nerve stimulation in evaluation of patellar tracking: tourniquet effects and catheter placement.
Dynamic intraoperative assessment of patella tracking utilizes femoral nerve stimulation to contract the quadriceps muscles in assessing the proper distance to transfer the tibial tubercle during distal realignment procedures for patellofemoral instability. ⋯ Increased tourniquet inflation times require greater stimulus amplitude to generate quadriceps muscle contraction. Ultrasound guidance for catheter placement can provide femoral nerve stimulation at low amplitudes.