Piriformis Syndrome

This page or section deals with a topic that is not widely recognised or accepted.

Please use your clinical judgement and note that this is not necessarily standard practice in NZ.

Piriformis syndrome is a controversial entity that describes entrapment neuropathy of the sciatic nerve through the piriformis muscle. It is the opinion of the author and colleagues that this condition is over-diagnosed in New Zealand and that most cases of purported piriformis syndrome can be explained by somatic referred pain from other structures such as a lumbar disc, lumbar facet joint, or sacroiliac joint.