Injection injury of the sciatic nerve: unusual anatomic distribution of nerve damage.

Sciatic nerve damage by intragluteal injections tends to injure the peroneal nerve trunk more severely than the other components of the sciatic nerve. 2 patients with predominant or sole damage to the posterior tibial nerve trunk were observed. This distribution was documented electrophysiologically. Our cases are unusual and point to a wider spectrum of such injuries. It is also suggested that internal fibrosis of the nerve is of greatest importance as a pathogenetic mechanism in these injuries.