NeurodinamicAtlas

Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment

The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve descends alongside the sciatic nerve and gives perineal and inferior gluteal branches near the ischial tuberosity. Entrapment by a fibrous band in this area has been described. This page shows it in 3D.

Anatomy of the passage

Ischial border and infragluteal region
Plate derived from Z-Anatomy / BodyParts3D · CC BY-SA 4.0

Entrapment of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve and its branches has been described next to a fibrous expansion lateral to the ischial tuberosity. It may be related to infragluteal pain or pain on sitting. The evidence is limited and it must not be automatically confused with sciatic or pudendal neuropathy.

Nerve
Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve: infragluteal region
Frequency
Proposed with limited evidence: case series, clinical commentaries or anatomical descriptions.
Type of evidence
Anatomical and surgical description

References

  1. Ploteau S, Salaud C, Hamel A, Robert R. Entrapment of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve and its inferior cluneal branches: anatomical basis of surgery for inferior cluneal neuralgia. Surg Radiol Anat 2017. PubMed 28236130 · DOI

Ultrasound landmarks

At the lower border of gluteus maximus, the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve descends superficial to the sciatic nerve and the hamstrings, near the ischial tuberosity.

All entrapment sites

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