Piriformis Syndrome Presenting with Foot Drop Diagnosed with Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Background: In piriformis syndrome, the main symptom is pain. Foot drop is not typical and radiological evaluations are usually normal.

Findings: A 35-year-old woman was presented with intense pain in the lower limb. She had foot drop and Laseque's sign was positive at 30 degrees. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging showed hypertrophy of the piriformis muscle and perineural edema of the sciatic nerve on T2-weighted images. Fluoroscopy guided local corticosteroid injection to the piriformis muscle and around the nerve provided complete pain relief and motor recovery.

Conclusions: Piriformis syndrome can cause foot drop. Magnetic resonace imaging can help earlier diagnosis and treatment.

KEYWORDS. :

• Foot drop
• piriformis syndrome
• sciatalgia
• pain