Fourteen (14) months follow up of traumatic sciatic neuritis due to intramuscular injection: a case report

Abstract

The injury caused due to the intramuscular (IM) mode of drug administration are still affecting population in rural area more than urban area. The IM injection given in any quadrant except the upper outer quadrant of buttock most commonly damages the sciatic nerve because of its course and extent in the injection prone site. The iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury because of IM injection in dorsogluteal site is a matter of concern all over the world covering the undeveloped, developing and developed countries. The iatrogenic sciatic neuritis causes severe neurological or motor deficits leading to the medico-legal consequences. An 8-year-old male child, post dorsogluteal IM injection for mild fever and cold, presented left lower limb weakness and pain in left gluteal region. The patient underwent the medical and physiotherapeutic management for 14 months. The medical management included the initial dose of steroids and ox carbamazepine along with methylcobalamine and folic acid. The physiotherapeutic intervention concentrated on the functional independency of child. The patient attended complete physiological and functional recovery by the end of 14^th month concluding that sometimes waiting for lesion to resolve is better than intervention. The iatrogenic sciatic neuritis is a complication that needs attention for prevention following intramuscular drug administration technique.