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Piriformis syndrome--an attempt to understand its pathology
D N Kanakis1, A C Lazaris, E C Papadopoulos
1First Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. dimitrios.kanakis@uk-essen.de
Clinical Neuropathology
|February 24, 2010
Summary
This study examined hip rotator anatomy and sciatic nerve histology in cadavers to identify pathology linked to piriformis syndrome (PS). Findings revealed significant nerve alterations, supporting their role in PS.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Histology
- Pathology
Background:
- Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a condition characterized by sciatic nerve compression.
- Understanding the anatomical and histological basis of PS is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the gross anatomy of hip rotators and the histology of sciatic nerves in adult cadavers.
- To identify potential pathological changes associated with piriformis syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Dissection of 50 adult cadavers, with sciatic nerves harvested from 17 cases exhibiting macroscopic findings.
- Microscopic analysis of harvested sciatic nerves using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry for Neurofilament (NF).
- Comparison of affected nerves with contralateral unaffected nerves as controls.
Main Results:
- Significant structural alterations were observed in the affected sciatic nerves compared to control nerves.
- Both H&E staining and immunohistochemistry demonstrated these histological changes.
- Macroscopic findings at the harvesting sites, such as anatomical variations and adhesions, were also recorded.
Conclusions:
- The observed anatomical and histological findings in cadavers are consistent with lesions expected in piriformis syndrome.
- These results indicate potential sciatic nerve injury in PS, although further studies correlating with patient history are warranted.
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