Question
A friend working in the surgery department is a newly graduated nurse who administered a buttock muscle injection to a one-year-old child last year. After the injection, a lump appeared in the child’s buttocks, but no abnormalities were found during the examination. However, last month, the child walked with a wobble, and after multiple checks and a visit to the neurology department, it was discovered that the injection site was too far out, possibly damaging a small nerve. What kind of sequelae might this cause for the child?
Answer
Currently, muscle injections in the buttocks are no longer encouraged for one-year-old children because the sciatic nerve passes through this area, making it easy to be damaged after injection. The child’s unsteady walking may be due to regional injection injury or pain. It is recommended to apply heat to the injection site, reduce walking, continue to observe for changes, and treat promptly. Typically, no sequelae will remain.