• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.149-151
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• 1995

Piriformis syndrome is a syndrome of low back and leg radiating pain thought to be due to a chronic contracture of the piriformis muscle that causes irritation of the sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle is a flat pyramidal muscle, an external rotator and abductor of the hip, originating from the front of the sacrum and inner aspect of the sacroiliac joint, then passes laterally out of the sciatic notch to attach posteriorly to the greater trochanter of the femur, the sciatic nerve passes between the two bellies of the muscle. Mechanical irritation of the sciatic nerve by an inflammatory reaction of the piriformis muscle and its fascia at this pelvic level causes pain to radiate in the dermatomal regions of the nerve roots similar to that disk entrapment. diagnosis of piriformis syndrome is made primary on the basis of history and clinical examination. The incidence is considerably higher in women, with the reported ratio of women to men of 6:1. These patients frequently present with associated symptoms of pelvic pain and/or dyspareunia. Symptoms are usually unilateral but occasionally be bilateral. We had a 42 year-old woman patient with low back and left leg radiating pain and dyspareunia treated by caudal steroid and local anesthetic.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.341-346
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• 1995

Piriformis Syndrome is characterized by pain of the low back, groin, perineum, buttock, hip, posterior thigh, leg and foot. Symptoms are aggravated by sitting, prolonged combination of hip flexion, adduction, the medial rotation, or by activity. In addition, patient may complain of painful swelling of the limb and sexual dysfunction-dyspareunia in female, and impotence in male. It currently appears that three specific conditions may contribute to the piriformis syndrome: (a) myofascial pain; (b) nerve and vascular entrapment; (c) dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint. The important keys of diagnosis are history and physical examination. There is no known objective diagnostic method. We described the clinical features of four cases of piriformis syndrome and reviewed foreign literature.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 1991

Piriformis syndrome is a syndrome of low back and leg pain thought to be due to chronic contracture of the piriformis muscle that causes irritation of the sciatic nerve. We have utilized an alternative approach using cauaal steroid in local anesthetics injection in the treatment of piriformis syndrome. I it was a very effective method without any complications.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.131-137
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of MSAT (Mostion style acuputure treatment) on piriformis muscle regarding leg radiating pain with HIVD of L-SPINE. Methods Forty patients who received inpatient treatment from Febuarary 1 to March 31, 2014 in the Daejon-Jaseng oriental medicine hospital were divided into 2 groups by blocked randomization : Group A (n=20)=routine treatment on HIVD of L-SPINE with MSAT on piriformis muscle and Group B (n=20)=routine treatment on HIVD of L-SPINE (acupuncture, Shinbaro pharmacopuncture, herb medication, chuna treatment and physiotherapy). The MSAT (Mostion style acuputure treatment) on piriformis muscle was administered each day and both groups were received routine treatment each day. Evaluations were made before treatment, after 3 days and 7 days, and before discharge using the NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index). The statistically significance was evaluated by SPSS 18.0 for windows. Results Compared to before treatment, the NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index) of both A and B groups after 3, 7 days and before discharge of treatment significantly decreased (p<0.05). Regarding group comparison, the NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index) of A group was significantly lower than the B group at 3, 7 days, before dischanre (p<0.05). Regarding improvement of the NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index), A group was significantly lower than the B group at 3 day (NRS), 7day (ODI) (p=0.000) but there was no significant difference between the two groups at 7 days (NRS) and before discharge (p>0.05). Conclusions Compared to just routine treatment, the MSAT (Mostion style acuputure treatment) on piriformis muscle significantly improved the NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index) after 3, 7 days, and before discharge. Because early intervention determines the grade of Leg radiating pain with HIVD of L-SPINE, the MSAT (Mostion style acuputure treatment) on piriformisat the early stage will be clinically helpful to patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2011

Background: Rocker bottom shoes (RBS) are popular among patients with different foot, leg, or back problems in Korea. Patients with knee osteoarthritis concurrent weakness in the quadriceps femoris muscle, who wear these shoes, are often assumed to develop piriformis syndrome (PS). This study was performed to improve the understanding about the effect of wearing such shoes on duration of the syndrome in knee osteoarthritis. Methods: We randomly assigned 150 patients with PS, who had used RBS daily for at least 6 months, to 2 groups, the S (stopped wearing) and K (kept wearing) groups. Both the groups were subdivided into the O and N groups, comprising patients with and without knee osteoarthritis, respectively. The effects of the treatment, including piriformis muscle injections and a home exercise program, were compared between the 2 groups by using a flexion-adduction-internal rotation (FAIR) test, a numeric rating scale (NRS), and the revised Oswestry disability index (ODI) during the 12-week follow-up. Results: The positive FAIR test ratios, mean NRS scores, and revised ODIs were higher in the KO group than the SN group from 4-12 weeks after treatment. Conclusions: RBS may extend duration of the PS in osteoarthritis patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.217-226
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• 2024

Objective : The efficacy of sciatic nerve decompression via transgluteal approach for entrapment of the sciatic nerve at the greater sciatic notch, called piriformis syndrome, and factors affecting the surgical outcome were analyzed. Methods : The outcome of pain reduction was analyzed in 81 patients with sciatic nerve entrapment who underwent decompression through a transgluteal approach. The patients were followed up for at least 6 months. The degree of pain reduction was analyzed using a numerical rating scale-11 (NRS-11) score and percent pain relief before and after last follow-up following surgery. Success was defined by at least 50% reduction in pain measured via NRS-11. To assess the degree of subjective satisfaction, a 10-point Likert scale was used. In addition, demographic characteristics, anatomical variations, and variations in surgical technique involving sacrotuberous ligamentectomy were analyzed as factors that affect the surgical outcome. Results : At a follow-up of 17.5±12.5 months, sciatic nerve decompression was successful in 50 of 81 patients (61.7%), and the pain relief rate was 43.9±34.17. Subjective improvement based on a 10-point Likert scale was 4.90±3.43. Among the factors that affect the surgical outcome, only additional division of the sacrotuberous ligament during piriformis muscle resection played a significant role. The success rate was higher in the scarotuberous ligementectomy group (79.4%) than in the non-resection group (42.6%), resulting in statistically significant difference based on average NRS-11 score, percent pain relief, and subjective improvement (p<0.05, independent t-test). Conclusion : Sciatic nerve decompression is effective in pain relief in chronic sciatica due to sciatic nerve entrapment at the greater sciatic notch. Its effect was further enhanced by circumferential dissection of the sciatic nerve based on the compartment formed by the piriformis muscle and the sacrotuberous ligament in the greater sciatic notch.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2000

This evaluation was made through 11 persons who discogenic disease and it emergency disease. There was all complains low back. with sustained buttock pain with radiating to the leg due to piriformis syndrome during the period of march 2000 to November 1999 in seoul wooridul hospital. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of manual therapy through 11 persons. The results were as follow : 1. Right buttock pain group(n = 11). there was significant difference before manual treatment(P<.05). 2. Pain decreased before Tx then after Tx by VAS.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2016

This is a case report about left leg radiating pain treated with complex traditional Korean medical intervention, while the case did not responded to prolotherapy and extracorporeal shock wave treatment for lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD). The patient was diagnosed with a piriformis problem after a physical examination and was treated with lumbar and piriformis muscle treatment. After 9 sessions of treatment for 33 days, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain has been decreased from 8 to 3. Further studies with more cases and longer observation period should be conducted to provide evidence for optimum acupuncture procedure considering its effectiveness, safety and patients' compliance altogether.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of Dong-qi acupuncture on piriformis for herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) of lumbar spine patients with piriformis muscles tenderness. Methods : This research was carried out on the 60 inpatients who received treatment for their HIVD of lumbar spine from January 1 to May 31, 2014 in DaeJeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. We divided them into two groups ; group A(n=30) : common treatment on HIVD of L-spine without Dong-qi acupuncture on piriformis(acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herb medication, Chuna and physiotherapy), and group B(n=30) : common treatment on HIVD of L-spine with Dong-qi acupuncture on piriformis. We evaluated the treatment effect of each group on tenderness(checked by Algometer pressure), and with a numeric rating scale(NRS), and oswestry disability index(ODI). The evaluations of tenderness were performed 8 times : admission day, and on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th and 21st day after admission. The evaluations of NRS and ODI were performed 3 times : admission day, and on the 12th and 21st day after admission. The statistical significance was evaluated by SPSS 18.0 for Windows. Results : In group B, tenderness was significantly decreased compared with group A. The difference of tenderness from admission day to the 12th day showed significant reduction compared with group A. Conclusions : Dong-qi acupuncture is more effective in reducing piriformis muscle tenderness in the early stages of treatment. We expect that patients who receive Dong-qi acupuncture will be satisfied with Korean medical treatment and trust their doctor.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.305-317
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• 2020

Not all sciatica-like manifestations are of lumbar spine origin. Some of them are caused at points along the extra-spinal course of the sciatic nerve, making diagnosis difficult for the treating physician and delaying adequate treatment. While evaluating a patient with sciatica, straightforward diagnostic conclusions are impossible without first excluding sciatica mimics. Examples of benign extra-spinal sciatica are: piriformis syndrome, walletosis, quadratus lumborum myofascial pain syndrome, cluneal nerve disorder, and osteitis condensans ilii. In some cases, extra-spinal sciatica may have a catastrophic course when the sciatic nerve is involved in cyclical sciatica, or the piriformis muscle in piriformis pyomyositis. In addition to cases of sciatica with clear spinal or extra-spinal origin, some cases can be a product of both origins; the same could be true for pseudo-sciatica or sciatica mimics, we simply don't know how prevalent extra-spinal sciatica is among total sciatica cases. As treatment regimens differ for spinal, extra-spinal sciatica, and sciatica-mimics, their precise diagnosis will help physicians to make a targeted treatment plan. As published works regarding extra-spinal sciatica and sciatica mimics include only a few case reports and case series, and systematic reviews addressing them are hardly feasible at this stage, a scoping review in the field can be an eye-opener for the scientific community to do larger-scale prospective research.