@article{3193426,
    title = "Sciatic Nerve Variants and the Piriformis Muscle: A Systematic Review
and Meta-Analysis",
    author = "Poutoglidou, Frideriki and Piagkou, Maria and Totlis, Trifon and Tzika, and Maria and Natsis, Konstantinos",
    journal = "CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE",
    year = "2020",
    volume = "12",
    number = "11",
    publisher = "CUREUS INC",
    doi = "10.7759/cureus.11531",
    keywords = "variation; abnormality; sciatic nerve; piriformis muscle; anatomy;
anomaly",
    abstract = "The present systematic review and meta-analysis provides a comprehensive
assessment of the sciatic nerve (SN) variants relative to the piriformis
muscle (PM) and compares those variants’ prevalence among different
geographical populations with respect to gender and laterality. A
database search was conducted to identify cadaveric studies pertinent to
SN variants relative to the PM. A total of 44 articles were included.
The typical morphological pattern (type A, with the SN passing undivided
below the PM) was found to be the most common variant, with 90% pooled
prevalence. SN variants were more common among East Asians, with a 31%
pooled prevalence of total variants. No significant differences were
established with respect to gender and laterality. In greater than 10%
of the population, the SN coursed through or above piriformis. Patients’
epidemiological characteristics may predispose them to certain variants.
The common peroneal nerve (CPN) is more susceptible to injury during a
total hip arthroplasty or a hip arthroscopy where anomalies are
encountered. As anatomical variants are commonly associated with
piriformis syndrome, they should always be considered during diagnosis
and treatment."
}