11/10/2025
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𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗔 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲–𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗚𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗺
▶️ Sciatica-like pain is frequently attributed to lumbar disc herniation or spinal stenosis, but in many patients, symptoms persist despite treatment of spinal causes, suggesting extraspinal etiologies (Guedes e
t al., 2020). Deep Gluteal Syndrome (DGS), first described by McCrory and Bell (1999) as sciatic nerve entrapment, has emerged as a significant source of nondiscogenic buttock and leg pain.
▶️ Prevalence estimates suggest that up to 17% of patients presenting with sciatica may have DGS (Kizaki et al., 2020). Traditionally viewed as a nerve entrapment disorder, more recent evidence highlights the contribution of muscular and tendinous pathologies—particularly enthesopathies of the deep external rotators and hamstring origin—as primary pain generators (Martin et al., 2015; De Lorenzis et al., 2023).
▶️ This evolving perspective necessitates a redefinition of DGS that integrates muscle–tendon pathology with neural mechanisms.
📘 In a brand-new narrative review Yoon et al. (2025, https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/19/2531 -diagnostics-15-02531) expand the conceptual framework of Deep Gluteal Syndrome beyond sciatic nerve entrapment, emphasizing muscle- and tendon-related pathologies as central contributors.
✅ Pathogenesis: In addition to sciatic nerve compression, pathologies such as ischiofemoral impingement, proximal hamstring tendinopathy, and enthesopathy of the deep external rotators can directly generate pain or secondarily irritate neural structures.
✅ Diagnosis: Clinical differentiation from lumbar radiculopathy is critical. Provocative maneuvers (FAIR, piriformis stretch, Pace’s test) and imaging (high-resolution MRI, MR neurography, dynamic ultrasonography) aid in distinguishing nerve-dominant from tendon-dominant subtypes. This differentiation might be a crucial factor in clinical reasoning.
✅ Treatment: A stepwise strategy is recommended—beginning with conservative care (load management, progressive tendon loading exercises , neural mobilization/desensitization), depending on tendon involvement or neural mechano-hypersensitive with refractory cases reserved for surgery. But, current evidence largely comprises case series and expert opinion underscoring the need for randomized controlled trials.
💡 Conclusion:
DGS should be reframed as a heterogeneous syndrome involving both neural entrapment and muscle–tendon pathology. Recognition of tendon-dominant and mixed subtypes allows for more precise diagnosis and tailored treatment strategies. Future work must focus on validating classification systems and establishing high-level evidence for emerging therapies.
📚 References
Battaglia, P.J., Mattox, R., Haun, D.W., Welk, A.B., & Kettner, N.W. (2016). Dynamic ultrasonography of the deep external rotator musculature of the hip: A descriptive study. PM&R, 8(7), 640–650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.11.001
De Lorenzis, E., Natalello, G., Simon, D., Schett, G., & D’Agostino, M.A. (2023). Concepts of entheseal pain. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 75(3), 493–498. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.42299
Guedes, F., Brown, R.S., Lourenço Torrão-Júnior, F.J., Siquara-de-Sousa, A.C., & Pires Amorim, R.M. (2020). Nondiscogenic sciatica: What clinical examination and imaging can tell us? World Neurosurgery, 134, e1053–e1061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2019.11.083
Hauser, R.A., Lackner, J.B., Steilen-Matias, D., & Harris, D.K. (2016). A systematic review of dextrose prolotherapy for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Clinical Medicine Insights: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disorders, 9, 139–159. https://doi.org/10.4137/CMAMD.S39160
Hernando, M.F., Cerezal, L., Pérez-Carro, L., Abascal, F., & Canga, A. (2015). Deep gluteal syndrome: Anatomy, imaging, and management of sciatic nerve entrapments in the subgluteal space. Skeletal Radiology, 44(7), 919–934. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2112-6
Kizaki, K., Uchida, S., Shanmugaraj, A., Aquino, C.C., Duong, A., Simunovic, N., Martin, H.D., & Ayeni, O.R. (2020). Deep gluteal syndrome is defined as a non-discogenic sciatic nerve disorder with entrapment in the deep gluteal space: A systematic review. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 28(10), 3354–3364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-020-05966-x
Martin, H.D., Reddy, M., & Gómez-Hoyos, J. (2015). Deep gluteal syndrome. Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery, 2(2), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhps/hnv029
McCrory, P., & Bell, S. (1999). Nerve entrapment syndromes as a cause of pain in the hip, groin and buttock. Sports Medicine, 27(4), 261–274. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199927040-00005
Yen, Y.S., Lin, C.H., Chiang, C.H., & Wu, C.Y. (2024). Ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve hydrodissection can improve the clinical outcomes of patients with deep gluteal syndrome: A case-series study. Diagnostics, 14(4), 757. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14040757
Yoon, Y.H., Hwang, J.H., Lee, H.W., Lee, M., Park, C., Lee, J., Kim, S., Lee, J., de Castro, J.C., Lam, K.H.S., et al. (2025). Beyond nerve entrapment: A narrative review of muscle–tendon pathologies in deep gluteal syndrome. Diagnostics, 15(19), 2531. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15192531
📷 Figure: Anatomy of the deep gluteal space. Muscles and ligaments are indicated in black, and nerves are indicated in yellow boxes. The area with red stars is where enthesopathy occurs. Ligaments are indicated by black circles, nerves by yellow boxes, and tendons by red boxes, https://www.mdpi.com/diagnostics/diagnostics-15-02531/article_deploy/html/images/diagnostics-15-02531-g002.png
