A three year review of sciatic nerve injection palsy in the physiotherapy department of a Nigerian Specialist Hospital.

Abstract

Sciatic Nerve palsy associated with intramuscular injection is a major cause of disability among children under 6-vears old in the developing Countries. A retrospective study was conducted with an objective to review cases of all patients with Injection induced sciatic nerve palsy managed at the Physiotherapy Department, State Specialist Hospital, Akure Ondo State over a period of 3 years (January 2004 and December 2006). The case notes of these patients were reviewed and the details of the patients' sex, age and presentations were obtained. Records of 160 patients presenting with Sciatic Nerve Injection Palsy were studied. Males accounted for 60% while 40% were females. They were aged from 3 months to 70 Years with paediatric cases accounting for 90% of cases. All of the patients had intramuscular injections following febrile illness. Muscle paralysis with foot drop accounted for 41 % cases while 59% had varying degrees of muscle paresis, without foot drop, and 4% had equinovarus deformity as a complication of the paralytic foot drop. Sciatic Nerve Injection Palsy especially in children is a common referral to the Physiotherapy Clinic. There is therefore need for caution in the administration of gluteal intramuscular injections particularly in children.