Sciatic Nerve Compression Research Articles

Reduction of cerebrospinal fluid glutamic acid in Huntington's chorea and in schizophrenic patients.

Glutamic acid levels were investigated in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood serum of patients with schizophrenia, Huntington's chorea, and sciatic nerve compression by lumbar disc protrusion. In the serum the glutamic acid levels were equal in all three groups; in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of schizophrenic and Hungtington's patients, however, the glutamic acid was decreased to almost half that of the lumbar disc group which served as control. Most of the patients were treated with neuroleptic drugs. However, since in one case (the daughter of a Huntington's patient) the CSF glutamic acid was decreased although this woman had had no neuroleptic treatment, it seems more likely that the glutamic acid decrease is due to the disease rather than to the neuroleptic treatment.

Sciatic Nerve Compression During Anticoagulation Therapy

Severe hip pain developed in a patient who was receiving anticoagulation therapy of heparin sodium and warfarin sodium (Coumadin) for femoral vein phlebitis. The patient had exquisite tenderness but no ecchymoses along the sciatic nerve. A drop in the hemoglobin level showed a large volume loss of blood. Retroperitoneal hematoma with lumbar plexopathy was suspected, but a computerized tomographic scan revealed instead hemorrhage into the gluteal muscles. The anticoagulation therapy was corrected with the addition of protamine sulfate and vitamin K; the patient's pain lessened and the hemoglobin level stabilized. Computerized tomography allowed clear visualization of the hematomas in the buttock, and invasive studies were avoided. Hip pain and a falling hemoglobin level in a patient receiving anticoagulation therapy should alert one to the possibility of bleeding into the retroperitoneal space, thigh, or buttock.

A congenital iliac anomaly often associated with sacral lipoma and ipsilateral lower extremity weakness

Eight patients with an anomaly of the iliac bone consisting of a protuberance projecting into the greater sciatic notch are discussed. The anomaly may be associated with sciatic nerve compression and atrophy; sacral, buttock, or intradural lipomata; tethered spinal cord; and ipsilateral lower extremity weakness. Surgical treatment can result in improvement of neurologic symptoms and signs.

Congenital iliac anomaly with sciatic palsy.

Abstract Two cases of a congenital iliac anomaly characterized by over-growth of bone posterior to the greater sciatic notch with resulting sciatic nerve compression and palsy are reported.