TY - JOUR
TI - Sciatic Nerve Variants and the Piriformis Muscle: A Systematic Review
and Meta-Analysis
AU - Poutoglidou, Frideriki
AU - Piagkou, Maria
AU - Totlis, Trifon
AU - Tzika,
AU - Maria
AU - Natsis, Konstantinos
JO - CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
PY - 2020
VL - 12
TODO - 11
SP - null
PB - CUREUS INC
SN - null
TODO - 10.7759/cureus.11531
TODO - variation; abnormality; sciatic nerve; piriformis muscle; anatomy;
anomaly
TODO - 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.
ER -