Bipartite piriformis muscle: an unusual cause of sciatic nerve entrapment

Pain. 1994 Aug;58(2):269-272. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(94)90208-9.

Abstract

The sciatic nerve usually emerges below the piriformis muscle; however, variations of the relationship between the sciatic nerve and piriformis muscle are occasionally encountered. In a 28-year-old woman with sciatica, entrapment of the sciatic nerve by a bipartite piriformis muscle was found. She was treated by dissection of the lower head of the piriformis muscle and restitution of the normal anatomical relationship between the nerve and piriformis muscle. Sciatica resolved postoperatively.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Muscle, Skeletal / diagnostic imaging
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology*
  • Nerve Compression Syndromes / diagnostic imaging
  • Nerve Compression Syndromes / pathology*
  • Nerve Compression Syndromes / surgery
  • Sciatic Nerve / diagnostic imaging
  • Sciatic Nerve / pathology*
  • Sciatic Nerve / surgery
  • Sciatica / diagnostic imaging
  • Sciatica / pathology*
  • Sciatica / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed