[Rhabdomyolysis and truncular sciatica. 2 cases studied by MRI]

We report two cases of acute rhabdomyolysis in pelvic girdle muscles with sciatic palsy secondary to compression of the sciatic nerve trunk, with clinical and MRI correlation. The diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis is based on clinical and biological data, but diagnosis of compression complications secondary to swelling of the muscles, especially the compression of nerve trunk, is done by imaging. T2 weighted images give a definite anatomical evaluation. They show enlarged high signal intensity muscles and anatomic relationship with the sciatic nerve from its emergence out of pelvis, giving a good correlation between rhabdomyolysis and the compressed nervous trunk. It helps for planning a possible surgical fasciotomy. However, MRI provides only morphological informations, but not differentiates edema from necrosis in involved muscles.