Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Sriselvakumar S, Feger J, Superior cluneal nerve entrapment. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-159276
Superior cluneal nerve entrapment is a potential cause of low back pain. The nerves travel underneath the thoracolumbar fascia and within the osteofibrous tunnel of the iliac crest and this is a potential space for nerve entrapment 1,2.
Low back pain and radiating leg pain are common symptoms of this condition. Pain is exacerbated with extension or retroversion of the lumbar spine with bending, rotating and prolonged walking. Tinel test is positive at the site of nerve penetration into thoracolumbar fascia 3.
CT/MRI
The superior cluneal nerves are very thin and CT and MRI are not diagnostic for this condition. High-resolution CT might be useful in detecting any bony abnormalities within an osteofibrous tunnel.
Treatment and prognosis
A nerve block can help to alleviate pain and also aid in diagnosis. Surgical decompression is considered for refractory cases 3,4.
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1. Kuniya H, Aota Y, Saito T et al. Anatomical Study of Superior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment. SPI. 2013;19(1):76-80. doi:10.3171/2013.4.spine12683 - Pubmed
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2. Konno T, Aota Y, Kuniya H et al. Anatomical Etiology of “pseudo-Sciatica” from Superior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment: A Laboratory Investigation. JPR. 2017;Volume 10:2539-45. doi:10.2147/jpr.s142115 - Pubmed
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3. Isu T, Kim K, Morimoto D, Iwamoto N. Superior and Middle Cluneal Nerve Entrapment as a Cause of Low Back Pain. Neurospine. 2018;15(1):25-32. doi:10.14245/ns.1836024.012 - Pubmed
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4. Kuniya H, Aota Y, Kawai T, Kaneko K, Konno T, Saito T. Prospective Study of Superior Cluneal Nerve Disorder as a Potential Cause of Low Back Pain and Leg Symptoms. J Orthop Surg Res. 2014;9(1):139. doi:10.1186/s13018-014-0139-7 - Pubmed
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