Sciatic nerve palsy associated with intramuscular quinine injections in children

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to show that, in children, gluteal injection of quinine dihydrochloride (QDH) may result in damage to the sciatic nerve. Forty-six children were seen with foot drop following intramuscular injections in the same limb. They were analyzed for the type of injection, injection site, route of injection, the Health Unit where the drug was administered and the personnel that administered the prescription, the type of paralysis and its duration. In 22 children, QDH was the principle drug  administered. Of these, five (23%) had a sciatic palsy that persisted for at least one year. As well as the sciatic nerve palsy, some of the children developed other  complications including equinovarus deformity, leg length discrepancy and trophic ulcers. We conclude that intramuscular injections of quinine dihydrochloride into the gluteal muscles in ildren can cause sciatic nerve palsies and that Lfortunately some of these may be permanent.