Hypogastric artery aneurysm: a very rare cause of sciatica (and a tricky diagnostic problem!)

A 68-year-old hypertensive male suffering from acute sciatica with pronounced motor disturbances and urinary retention, was found to be suffering from aneurysm of the hypogastric artery. Surgical treatment of the aneurysm resulted in an incomplete recovery. The possible relationships of the aneurysm to the symptoms and treatment are discussed.