Post Injection Sciatic Neuritis: A Case Report

Abstract

For administration of certain drugs, intramuscular injections are used in children. The dorsogluteal area between the iliac crest and the greater trochanter is the most suitable site for intramuscular injection. Due to the poor co-operation of children/wrong technique/lack of trained personnel, there may be a risk of damage to sciatic nerve. A four-year-old boy presented with four day history of left foot drop. He had history of fever for which he consulted a local untrained medical practitioner and received an intramuscular injection at left gluteal region. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of pelvis and proximal thigh was performed and showed thickened and increased T2W signal of left sciatic nerve with perineural T2W hyperintensities suggestive of Sciatic Neuritis. Sciatic nerve injury can be potentially devastating, resulting in foot drop due to loss of dorsiflexion of the foot. The most common presentation is a paralytic foot drop that is caused due to involvement of the peroneal division of the sciatic nerve. Imaging of the sciatic nerve by MRI helps in early diagnosis and can assess the extent of involvement.

Keywords

• iatrogenic neuritis
• intramuscular injection
• left foot drop