Treatment of Upper Cluneal Nerve Entrapment Syndrome for Reduction of Low Back Pain

Treatment of Upper Cluneal Nerve Entrapment Syndrome for Reduction of Low Back Pain: Single-arm Experimental Study

Superior cluneal nerve entrapment (SCN) is a painful symptomatic condition related to compression by the thoracolumbar and gluteal bands of nerve outcrop, above the iliac crest. This syndrome is not considered in the classical differential diagnosis of lumbosacral spine disorders and is almost unknown in Italy.

It is a neuropathic pain, acute, subacute, or chronic, evoked by mechanical stress at the level of the sensory territory corresponding to the superior cluneal nerve, easily found anatomically and evoked at a trigger point on the posterior iliac crest approximately 70mm from the midline and 45mm from the posterior superior iliac spine.

SCN entrapment syndrome represents a not so infrequent syndrome. It is easily framed and treatment is effective in most cases. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome represents an excellent option in all those patients with low back pain that cannot be otherwise framed and resolved.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with age between 18 and 99 years
• male and female sex
• superior cluneal nerve trigger point positivity at clinical evaluation
• absence of urgent criteria for spinal surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients younger than 18 years old
• patients who have not given consent to be included in the study
• patients with negative upper cluneal nerve trigger point - emergency criteria for spine surgery
• pregnant women - patients allergic to local anesthetic
• patients with language barrier