Robotic Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Decompression
Beyond sciatic pain — identifying an overlooked nerve.
What is it? The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve (PFCN, S1–S3) exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen alongside the sciatic and pudendal nerves, supplying sensation to the back of the thigh, the lower buttock, and part of the perineum. Its close relationship to larger nerves means problems here are often misdiagnosed.
Symptoms – Deep buttock pain • burning or aching along the back of the thigh – Hypersensitivity of the lower buttock or upper posterior thigh – Pain with sitting • overlap with sciatic or pudendal symptoms – Symptoms that don’t match spine imaging
How ESSI treats it — Robotic intrapelvic access to the PFCN at its origin and through the greater sciatic region: precise decompression under magnification, with simultaneous evaluation of the sciatic, pudendal, gluteal, and perforating cutaneous nerves and removal of fibrosis, adhesions, or endometriosis in the region.
You may be a candidate if you have: persistent buttock or posterior thigh pain • symptoms unexplained by spine imaging • pain with sitting • failed conservative treatment.