Composite Anatomical Variations between the Sciatic Nerve and the Piriformis Muscle: A Nepalese Cadaveric Study

Abstract

Piriformis syndrome is a rare syndrome which is one of the main causes of nondiscogenic sciatica causing severe low back pain due to entrapment of sciatic nerve either by the hypertrophy or by inflammation of the piriformis muscle. We have carried out dissection in 20 Nepalese cadavers. Out of 40 dissected gluteal regions, 37 exhibited typical appearance of sciatic nerve, piriformis muscle, and their relations resembling type-a, whereas 3 gluteal regions showed composite structural variations resembling type-b and type-c based on Beaton and Anson’s classification. Knowledge pertaining to such variations will be helpful during a surgical intervention in the gluteal region and in turn reduces the risk of injuring these nerves which are more susceptible to damage. Our study reports such variations in Nepalese population which will be helpful during evaluation of the pain induction in various test positions and also useful for analysis of the range of the neurological deficiency in sciatic nerve neuropathies. The present study also explains the basis of the unsuccessful attempt of the sciatic nerve block during popliteal block anaesthesia.