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[Superior gluteal nerve entrapment neuropathy].
Schweizerische Rundschau Fur Medizin Praxis = Revue Suisse De Medecine Praxis
|March 21, 1989
Summary
Chronic gluteal pain can stem from superior gluteal nerve entrapment. Diagnosis via electromyography and treatment with corticosteroids or surgery can resolve this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- Chronic gluteal pain is a common complaint with diverse etiologies.
- Mechanical gluteal pain, particularly without neurological deficits like paresthesia, presents diagnostic challenges.
- Entrapment neuropathies are well-documented in other anatomical regions, such as the wrist.
Observation:
- Two female patients presented with chronic gluteal pain of mechanical origin.
- Symptoms included gluteal muscle tenderness and weakness in hip abduction.
- No paresthesia was reported in either case.
Findings:
- Electromyography confirmed superior gluteal nerve entrapment in both patients.
- One patient had entrapment of the main superior gluteal nerve, the other of its distal branch.
- Treatment with local corticosteroid infiltration led to clinical and electromyographic recovery in one patient.
Implications:
- Superior gluteal nerve entrapment is a potential, though rare, cause of chronic gluteal pain.
- Electromyography is crucial for diagnosing gluteal nerve entrapment.
- Corticosteroid injection is a viable initial treatment, with surgical decompression as a secondary option for persistent symptoms.