Sciatic hernia as a cause of chronic pelvic pain in women.

OBJECTIVE

To review experience with 20 women treated for sciatic hernia between 1993 and 1997.

METHODS

Patients with chronic pelvic pain and sciatic hernias, identified retrospectively from chart review, were seen during a 46-month period that covered the surgical experience at our institution and included approximately 1100 cases. The median length of follow-up was 13 months (range 3-36).

RESULTS

Sciatic hernia was diagnosed in 20 white women with chronic pelvic pain and was treated using laparoscopy. In 14 cases the hernias were right sided, in five they were left sided, and in one they were bilateral. All sciatic hernias contained the ipsilateral ovary alone or with its fallopian tube. All 20 patients reported symptomatic relief at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Sciatic hernia is a cause of chronic pelvic pain and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.