Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a neuromuscular condition that occurs when excessive tension or anatomical variations in the piriformis muscle compress the sciatic nerve. This compression can cause pain in the buttock that radiates down the back of the affected lower limb, often resembling sciatica. This article presents a case of a 62-year-old woman with PS, characterized by left buttock pain and paresthesia along the sciatic nerve path, unresponsive to conservative treatments. Diagnosing PS is a difficult task because its symptoms often overlap with those of other conditions, such as lumbar radiculopathy and gluteal tendinopathy. Effective management requires a combination of clinical evaluation, imaging studies, and targeted treatments. Conservative management is the mainstay of treatment, with botulinum toxin injections proving effective in cases that do not respond to standard therapies. Future research should aim to refine diagnostic criteria and investigate both surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
Source: Cureus
Authors: José F Brochado, João Pereira
Institution: Serviço de Saúde da Região Autónoma da Madeira
Language: English
Topic: Peripheral Nerve Disorders
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4403102735