title: Piriformis syndrome surgery causing severe sciatic nerve injury.
abstract: Piriformis syndrome is a controversial entrapment neuropathy in which the sciatic nerve is thought to be compressed by the piriformis muscle. Two patients developed severe left sciatic neuropathy after piriformis muscle release. One had a total sciatic nerve lesion, whereas the second had a predominantly high common peroneal nerve lesion. Follow-up studies showed reinnervation of the hamstrings only. We conclude that piriformis muscle surgery may be hazardous and result in devastating sciatic nerve injury.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Institute, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106-5098, USA. pjustice89@gmail.com
authors.forename: Phillip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Justice
authors.forename: Bashar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Katirji
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.forename: Gerald E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055958:Piriformis Muscle Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000209:etiology*