Post-injection nerve injuries in Kashmir: A menace overlooked

Abstract

• BACKGROUND: Nerve injury is a serious complication of intramuscular injections. About 12 billion injections are administered worldwide annually among which 50% are unsafe and 75% are unnecessary.
• METHODS: Three hundred and ten patients with post-injection nerve injury attended the Department of Orthopedics, Government Medical College Srinagar (India) from Jan 2002 to Dec 2007. All patients were evaluated for the drug injected, site of injection, indication for injection and person who injected the drug. Severity of neurodeficit and socioeconomic and educational status of the patient was also noted.
• RESULTS: A total of 278 patients had sciatic nerve injury, 29 had radial nerve injury and 3 had axillary nerve injury. One hundred and forty one were male and 169 were female patients. Injections were administered by unqualified persons in 258 patients (83%). Patients’ age ranged from 1 to 98 years (mean 37 years) and they were followed for 24 to 60 months (mean follow up 36.6 months).
• CONCLUSIONS: This alarming situation of unsafe injection practice needs an urgent check by preventing unauthorized personnel from injecting medicines, organizing compulsory update and refresher courses for all health service staff and educating the patients.
• KEYWORDS: Kashmir, nerve, injury, post-injection.