Introduction: Most common etiologies for peripheral nerve injury are laceration, compression and ischemia, electricity, traction and injection. Clinical and electrophysiological findings assisted by the imaging systems makes easier to define the neuropathy. In this study, we present a patient with a sciatic nerve lesion developed after intramuscular injection.

Case report: The patient presented with a pain of left foot and motor function loss after intramuscular injection 2 months ago. Motor function loss was spotted at the left foot of the patient in examination. Electromyography showed the sciatic nerve injury. There were not any related pathology in the lumbar MRI. The sciatic nerve MRI reported that there was osteomyelitis at the left iliac wing. 10 × 6 cm sized liquid collection was found and the pre-diagnosis was abscess formation. The patient was operated to decompress and excrete the abscess which was damaging the sciatic nerve. After the surgery, the motor function loss was recovered almost totally.

Discussion: Lower extremity neuropathies may be detected with clinical evaluation and electrophysiological studies. MRI can show us the localization and cause of the trauma. Timing for surgery determines the success. Surgery without any delay increases the chance of success.

Key words: Sciatic nerve injury. Osteomyelitis. Injection.