Is it painful to be different? Sciatic nerve anatomical variants on MRI and their relationship to piriformis syndrome

To investigate the purported relationship between sciatic nerve variant anatomy and piriformis syndrome. Over 49 months, 1039 consecutive noncontrast adult hip MRIs were completed for various clinical indications. Repeat and technically insufficient studies were excluded. Radiologists categorized sciatic nerve anatomy into Beaton and Anson anatomical types. Chart review using our institution’s cohort search and navigation tool determined the...