An entrapment in a strange place

Key words: Lower extremity, Piriformis syndrome, Sciatic nerve

The piriformis syndrome is a clinical condition rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of lower extremity pain and is due to the compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle. The diagnosis is essentially based on clinical data and the syndrome may present as an undefined painful symptomatology that can be difficult to interpret and sometimes, mainly in children, is misdiagnosed as a psychosomatic complaint or malingering. A correct diagnosis enables to start the pharmacological treatment and a specific rehabilitation. The article reports the clinical case of an 11-year-old girl who was diagnosed with piriformis syndrome about one year after the onset of symptoms.