Diagnosis and Management of Posttraumatic Piriformis Syndrome: A Case Study
Received 5 July 2005; received in revised form 16 August 2005
Abstract
Objective
The aim of this study is to describe the clinical management of a young male patient with sciatica symptoms that developed after an avulsion of the ischial tuberosity. This is a rare injury, but complications may occur.
Clinical Feature
A 19-year-old patient developed sciatica 6 months after a football injury. The patient described his symptoms as a shooting pain from the buttock to the lateral part of the foot, along the back of his thigh and calf, sometimes accompanied by paresthesia. Physical examination showed restricted hip range of motion and a positive Bonnet's test. X-ray analysis revealed a bony overgrowth of the right ischial tuberosity.
Intervention and Outcome
A treatment plan was designed to decrease the pain level, increase sacroiliac and lumbar joint mobility, and augment muscular extensibility. The patient received 20 treatments over a period of approximately 3 months. Complete recovery was observed 5 months later.
Conclusion
Although many differential diagnoses were contemplated, it is most likely that changes in muscular tension and gait pattern, resulting from the ischial tuberosity avulsion, contributed to overuse of the piriformis muscle leading to a piriformis syndrome.
aDépartement de Chiropratique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
bDépartement de Chiropratique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
cDépartement de Chiropratique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
dDépartement de Chiropratique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
Submit requests for reprints to: Martin Descarreaux, DC, PhD, Département de chiropratique, bureau 3613, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 boul. des Forges, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada G9A 5H7.
ABSTRACT