A rare cause of a piriformis syndrome

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2009;22(1):55-8. doi: 10.3233/BMR-2009-0213.

Abstract

Background and objective: A less common but important cause of buttock and leg pain known as "Piriformis Syndrome". Piriformis syndrome is all intrinsic pathology of the piriformis itself, such as myofascial pain, anatomical variations, hypertrophy, and myositis ossificans or it is caused by trauma to the pelvis or buttock. In this case report we are going to present a rare cause of piriformis syndrome.

Case report: Our first case was a 32 year old woman. She was referred to our pain clinic for leg pain that radiates from buttock to backside of the knee for 5 years. She did not have any problems in her history or laboratory findings. But in her lower extremity ortho roentgenogram, her leg was 2 cm short at the effected side. Second case was a 23 year old woman who had pain radiating from gluteal region to backside of the knee. In her history she had a car accident two years ago. In this accident, she had a fracture of collum femoris, and her leg was 1 cm short at the effected side.

Conclusion: We conclude that "short leg" is one of the rare causes of piriformis syndrome and can be seen alone or with the other causes. The injection on piriformis muscle could be more effective for the patients who have PS after the "short leg" treated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Leg Length Inequality / complications*
  • Leg Length Inequality / diagnosis*
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Piriformis Muscle Syndrome / etiology*
  • Piriformis Muscle Syndrome / therapy

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones