Sciatic Neuropathy
This is a medical problem where the sciatic nerve traverses the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg.
This nerve has been most commonly involved following injections of neurotoxic materials.
Injury to sciatic nerve could be due to the following:
– direct trauma
– hypersensitivity
– ischemia of the nerve and
– direct toxic effect to the nerve
Foot drop is most commonly seen as clinical manifestation to sciatic nerve injury where the foot is plantarflexed and inverted.
Other manifestations say that :
– anterior and posterior groups of leg muscles are weak
– ankle jerks may be absent or greatly diminished
– hamstring muscles may be weak and may have atrophy
– there is growth failure of the affected leg and foot
In this condition, complete recovery is unusual and only 1/3 of the cases recover completely.
Physical therapy is aimed at the restoration of function and prevention of contractures.
Thus, it is of utmost important for the health workers to be extra careful in giving medications by injections at the gluteal area to avoid injury to the sciatic nerve.