Injection-induced Sciatic Nerve Injury Among Children Managed in a Nigerian Physiotherapy Clinic: A Five-Year Review

Injection-induced sciatic nerve injury is a well-known complication of intra-muscular gluteus muscle injections. Affected individuals usually present with foot drop and this results in varying degrees of motor disability depending on the timing, quality and duration of the remedial measures instituted. This study was carried out to evaluate the pattern of cases of injection-induced sciatic nerve injury among children referred to the Outpatient Physiotherapy Clinic of the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. A retrospective review of the case notes of all paediatric patients referred to the physiotherapy clinic on account of injection-induced sciatic nerve injury from November 2005 to October 2010 was done. Information obtained included age, gender, side affected, personnel/place where injection was administered, the mode of physiotherapy intervention, number of sessions, impairment variables at presentation and underlying indication for injection administration. A total of 33 (19.64%) cases of sciatic nerve palsy out of 168 paediatric patients managed at the physiotherapy clinic within this 5-year period were reviewed. The ages of the participants ranged from 0-14 years. Sixteen (48.5%) of the patients were male while 17 (51.6%) were female. The side affected in 17 (51.6%) of the patients was the right while the left was affected in 16 (48.5%) patients. The right side was more affected in the females (12) while the left side was more affected in the males (11). Most incidences of injection-induced sciatic nerve palsy occurred in private hospitals (45.5%). A majority of the patients (69.7%), as reported by their carers and relatives, had the injections administered by nurses. The results revealed that a lot of effort should be made by the relevant authorities to ensure that medical and health professionals who administer injections adhere strictly to safe ethical practices and that unqualified personnel are not allowed to operate.