ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Deep gluteal syndrome (DGS) is a medical diagnosis in which the pathoanatomy of the subgluteal space contributes to pain. The growing recognition that gluteal neuropathies can be associated with the presence of a bone-neural conflict with irritation or compression may allow us to shed some light on this pathology. This study aims to determine whether the location of the sciatic nerve (SN) in relation to the ischial spine (IS) contributes to the development of DGS. METHODS: The SN - IS relationship was analyzed based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 15 surgical patients (SPs), who underwent piriformis release, and in 30 control patients who underwent MRI of the pelvis for reasons unrelated to sciatica. The SN exit from the greater sciatic foramen was classified as either zone A (medial to the IS); zone B (on the IS); or zone C (lateral to the IS). RESULTS: The SN was significantly closer to the IS in SPs than in MRI controls (P = 0.014). When analyzing patients of similar age, SNs in SPs were significantly closer (P = 0.0061) to the IS, and located in zone B significantly more (P = 0.0216) as compared to MRI controls. Patients who underwent surgery for piriformis release showed a significant decrease in pain postoperatively (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study suggest that the relationship between the IS and SN may play a role in the development of DGS. This may also help establish which patients would benefit more from surgical intervention.
Subject(s)
Ischium , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Piriformis Muscle Syndrome , Sciatic Nerve , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Female , Ischium/diagnostic imaging , Sciatic Nerve/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Piriformis Muscle Syndrome/diagnostic imaging , Piriformis Muscle Syndrome/surgery , Buttocks/diagnostic imaging , Buttocks/innervation , Aged , Sciatica/etiology , Sciatica/surgeryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE. Sesamoids and accessory ossicles are frequently encountered normal osseous structures in the foot that may be an uncommon cause of pain. Familiarity with their imaging findings allows the radiologist to provide reassurance in normal cases and increase confidence when making the relatively uncommon diagnosis of a pathologic sesamoid or symptomatic ossicle. CONCLUSION. Image-guided injections targeted to the symptomatic ossicle can confirm the suspected diagnosis and predict therapeutic outcomes before surgical intervention.
