A deep intramuscular (IM) injection into the buttocks can involve the sciatic nerve, resulting in a traumatic neuritis.
Clinical features:
(1) history of intramuscular injection into the buttocks
(2) onset within hours to days of pain and hypothermia in the affected limb, followed by variable flaccid paralysis and/or sensory loss
(3) absence of comparable changes in the opposite limb
(4) exclusion of other causes of neurologic injury (including lumbar disc hernitation)
(5) gradual recovery of neurologic function over weeks to months
Laboratory findings:
(1) serum CK may be elevated if there is adjacent muscle injury
Risk factors for more severe injury with prolonged recovery:
(1) greater direct trauma to the sciatic nerve
(2) caustic nature of injected material
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Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,
