Management of a patient with myofascial pain syndrome (piriformis syndrome): clinical follow-up

The article considers a clinical case of treatment of one of the variants of myofascial pain syndrome – piriformis syndrome without signs of sciatic nerve neuropathy. The peculiarity of the case is the comorbidity of the opioid syndrome with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy and osteoporosis, which required the appointment of complex therapy. The diagnosis was confirmed by additional research methods: spondylography, MRI of the lumbosacral spine, ultrasound of the piriformis muscle, electroneuromyography. A patient management tactic was chosen based on federal clinical guidelines for the treatment of patients with nonspecific back pain. Treatment included non-medicinal and medicinal methods. In order to relieve pain, dexketoprofen was prescribed 2 ml intramuscularly per 2 ml of 0.5% lidocaine solution – 1 time а day No. 2 – under navigation by ultrasound. Subsequently, the transfer was made to oral administration of 25 mg 3 times а day for 3 days. A step-by-step scheme of prescribing dexketoprofen: its introduction into the piriformis muscle with subsequent transfer to oral administration allowed to significantly reduce the severity of pain after 5 days of treatment. The complex effect on the spasmodic piriformis muscle with the help of a tableted muscle relaxant in combination with postisometric relaxation made it possible to quickly stop the pain syndrome and prevent its chronization. The administration of the preparation of thioctic acid pursued two goals: to improve the metabolism of the spasmodic muscle and restore the energy metabolism of peripheral nerves. As a result of the use of complex, pathogenetically based therapy, a positive effect was achieved.

FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF PIRIFORMIS MUSCLE SPARING POSTEROLATERAL APPROACH IN BIPOLAR HEMIARTHROPLASTY: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

INTRODUCTION: Hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture is a common surgical procedure and is the treatment of choice for displaced intracapsular neck of femur fracture. Numerous approaches are used to access the hip joint. The standard posterior approach is used by many surgeons to preserve the abductor complex but is associated with higher dislocation rate. In this study we assess functional outcomes of piriformis sparing posterolateral approach for hemiarthroplasty of hip. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively reviewed 96 patients who underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasty of hip performed by chief surgeon between May 2018 to September 2020. All the database was retrieved from institutional database of tertiary care hospital. Functional outcome was measured by modied HARRIS HIP SCORE. RESULTS: Till minimum 1 year follow up we noticed that there was no single case of hip dislocation. Joint proprioception was preserved. In the nal follow up average Harris hip score was 92.2. No infection, nerve injury, implant migration occurred in our study. DISCUSSION: The main aim of the arthroplasty procedure is to decrease pain, to achieve mobility and restore anatomy. The piriformis sparing approach not only preserves abductor complex but also piriformis muscle. The muscle works like cradle, at the posterosuperior part of the joint, an area with a high risk of dislocation. The only disadvantage was noted in this approach was increased exposure difculty in obese patients CONCLUSION: From this study we conclude that Piriformis sparing posterolateral approach is safe, demands some technical aspects and should be used by surgeons using posterolateral approach.

Pyomyositis of the Piriformis Muscle—A Case of Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis syndrome is a rare cause of sciatica, which results in low backache due to sciatic nerve compression. This syndrome is associated with abnormalities in the piriformis muscle, which cause sciatic nerve entrapment, like anatomical variations, muscle hypertrophy, and inflammation. It can also result from the abnormal course of sciatic nerve itself through normal piriformis muscle. Piriformis syndrome due to pyomyositis of the piriformis muscle is extremely rare and only 23 cases are reported in literature. Herein, we report one such rare case of a patient, with pyomyositis of piriformis muscle, who presented with piriformis syndrome.

Ultrasound-Guided Measurement of Piriformis Muscle Thickness to Diagnose Piriformis Syndrome

Background: Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a neuromuscular condition caused by the entrapment of the sciatic nerve at the level of the piriformis muscle (PM). Diagnosing PS remains challenging despite recent invasive and non-invasive diagnostic methods. Response to invasive nerve block is still one of the most reliable diagnostic modalities because there is no gold standard test for PS. As early diagnosis may prevent delayed diagnosis that results in chronic somatic dysfunction and muscle weakness, a screening test with high sensitivity could guide clinicians in performing the next appropriate step in diagnosing PS.Aim: The purpose of this study is to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and best cut-off point of ultrasound-guided PM thickness in PS.Method: This case-control study was conducted in a general hospital in Tangerang during a 3-month period. We recruited 58 patients clinically diagnosed with PS and 58 healthy patients (without a history of hip and buttock pain) during their visits to the outpatient clinic. All patients underwent ultrasound assessment to measure bilateral PM thickness. Sex, age, body mass index, history of micro-/macro-trauma, and prolonged sitting duration were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25.Result: The PS and control groups predominantly comprised female subjects, with mean ages of 51.79 ± 14.10 and 50.09 ± 13.26 years on PS and healthy subjects, respectively. The mean ultrasound-guided PM thickness was higher in PS subjects compared to healthy subjects with mean thicknesses of 1.16 ± 0.13 and 0.85 ± 0.11 cm, respectively (p < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the PM was 0.970 (95% confidence interval 0.943–0.998, p < 0.05). The best cut-off point defined by Youden's J index was 0.9950 cm for all PS subjects.Conclusion: We propose 0.9950 cm as the cut-off point for diagnosing PS by ultrasound, which has the sensitivity and specificity of 94.8 and 87.9%, respectively.

Ultrasonography Findings in the Proximal Sciatic Nerve and Deep Gluteal Muscles in 29 Dogs With Suspected Sciatic Neuritis

The present study aimed to describe the ultrasonography technique and analyze the ultrasonographic findings of the proximal sciatic nerve and deep gluteal muscles in dogs with suspected sciatic neuritis. The records of 29 dogs that underwent musculoskeletal ultrasound of the sciatic nerve and deep gluteal muscles were retrospectively evaluated. Both right and left sides were evaluated. Abnormal findings were unilateral in 28/29 (97%) of the dogs. The muscles examined included the piriformis muscle, gemelli muscles, internal obturator muscle, and medial gluteal muscle. Data included signalment, purpose of the dog, orthopedic examination findings, lameness examination findings, other diagnostic imaging findings, and ultrasonography findings. Irregular margins of the sciatic nerve were recorded in 76% of the dogs. The diameter of the sciatic nerve on the affected limb was significantly larger than the nerve on the contralateral, unaffected side (p < 0.00001). The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the sciatic nerve inner diameter between the unaffected and affected limbs was 15 ± 14.66%. The mean ± SD in sciatic nerve outer diameter was 12 ± 7.71%. Abnormal ultrasonographic findings in at least one of the examined muscles were found in 28/29 (97%) of the dogs and included changes in echogenicity in 28/29 (97%) of the dogs, loss of detail in muscle fiber pattern in 5/29 (17%) of the dogs, and impingement between the sciatic nerve and piriformis muscle in 6/29 (21%) of the dogs. The most common underlying diagnosis was lumbosacral stenosis in 9/29 (31%) of the dogs. The most common sport was agility for 21/29 (71%) of the dogs. Repetitive jumping may predispose to both lumbosacral disease, through dynamic compression, and changes within the piriformis muscle, due to overuse of the muscle leading to irritation to sciatic nerve. Ultrasonography is considered a safe and non-invasive diagnostic method to evaluate the sciatic nerve and deep gluteal muscles of dogs, and provides additional guidance for diagnostics and rehabilitation planning. This is the first study documenting ultrasonography findings in a case series of the sciatic nerve and deep gluteal muscles and their pathology in dogs.

Intrapelvic entrapment of sacral nerve roots by abnormal bundles of the piriformis muscle: description of an extra-spinal cause of sciatica and pudendal neuralgia

Piriformis syndrome is a well-known extra-spinal cause of sciatica characterized by the entrapment of the sciatic nerve by variant bundles of the piriformis muscles in the deep gluteal space. In this case series, we describe the entrapment of intrapelvic portions of the sacral nerve roots by a variant bundle of the piriformis muscle originating medially to the sacral foramina, the surgical technique for the laparoscopic treatment of this condition, and the outcomes of the first eight cases treated with this technique. Five female and three male patients presenting with sciatica, pudendal pain and lower urinary tract symptoms underwent a laparoscopic exploration of the intrapelvic portion of the sacral nerve roots and transection of the abnormal piriformis bundle. Surgical technique is demonstrated in the Supplementary Video. Clinical success was achieved in seven of the eight patients, with a reduction of pain numeric rating scale from 8.5 (±1.2; 7–10) pre-operatively to 2.1 (±2.6; 0–7), 1-year following surgery. In conclusion, entrapment of intrapelvic portions of the sacral nerve roots by variant bundles of the piriformis originating medially to the sacral foramina are an extraspinal cause of sciatica, which can be treated though a laparoscopic approach.