Diagnostic Techniques for Posterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome

This case report highlights the diagnostic process for posterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (POCNES) in an older adult female patient, with an emphasis on using video demonstrations to guide clinicians. POCNES should be diagnosed based on a combination of specific clinical features, including localized back pain accompanied by pinpoint tenderness lateral to the spinous process, cutaneous sensory abnormalities over the area of pain, severe pain response to pressure on the tender point, and normal clinical and imaging findings. This case demonstrates how these criteria were identified via a thorough physical examination captured on video to provide a visual guide for clinicians. The use of a lidocaine injection at the tender point confirmed the diagnosis, offering immediate relief. The video in this report serves as a practical tool for clinicians to accurately diagnose POCNES, particularly when standard imaging and tests remain inconclusive.