Superior Gluteal Artery

 
(See also: inferior gluteal artery)

Discussion

• major blood supply to gluteus medius and minimus;
• superior gluteal artery and nerve leave the pelvis above piriformis;
• emerges above piriformis, after passing thru greater sciatic foramen;
• once pass the notch, it divides into:
  • superficial branch supplying maximus;
  • deep branch
    • enters deep surface of medius in intermuscular plane between medius, gluteus minimus, & tensor fasciae lata;
    • this attachment tethers muscle limiting amount of upward retraction of muscle and prevents one from reaching the iliac crest;
• arterial branches reach as far as the anterior superior iliac spine.
• terminal branches anastomose w/ ascending branch of LFCA ;

Hazards

• superior gluteal artery appears to be vulnerable to a shearing force because of acute angulation of vessel as it passes out of pelvis;
• superior gluteal artery may be severed by sharp fascia of piriformis, even w/ a minimally displaced frx;
• superior gluteal artery is at risk during operative procedures on greater sciatic foramen

• Relationship Between the Superior Gluteal Vessels and Nerve at the Greater Sciatic Notch
• Spontaneous gluteal artery rupture resulting in compartment syndrome and sciatic neuropathy. Report of a case in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
• The Superior Gluteal Artery in Complex Acetabular Procedures. A Cadaveric Angiographic Study.
• Preoperative angiographic assessment of the superior gluteal artery in acetabular fractures requiring extensile surgical exposures.