Peripheral nerve injuries: gluteal injection injury: practice question

A Orthopaedics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Orthopaedics · Peripheral nerve injuries: gluteal injection injury

Sample item

A child develops foot drop and loss of sensation over the sole after an intramuscular injection in the buttock. Which injection site avoids this injury?

AUpper outer quadrant of the buttockBDirectly over the posterior thighCMidpoint between the ischial tuberosity and greater trochanterDLower inner quadrant of the buttock

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Upper outer quadrant of the buttock

The sciatic nerve leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen and runs down the lower inner part of the buttock. Injections should be placed in the upper outer quadrant, away from the nerve, and the common peroneal fibres within the sciatic trunk are the most vulnerable.

Option by option

A. Upper outer quadrant of the buttock (correct)
Correct. The upper outer quadrant is clear of the sciatic nerve.
B. Directly over the posterior thigh
The posterior thigh also overlies the nerve and is not a safe injection site.
C. Midpoint between the ischial tuberosity and greater trochanter
The midpoint between the ischial tuberosity and trochanter marks the line of the sciatic nerve.
D. Lower inner quadrant of the buttock
The lower inner quadrant lies over the course of the sciatic nerve and is dangerous.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is A, Upper outer quadrant of the buttock. The sciatic nerve leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen and runs down the lower inner part of the buttock.

Why is "Directly over the posterior thigh" not the answer?

The posterior thigh also overlies the nerve and is not a safe injection site.

Why is "Midpoint between the ischial tuberosity and greater trochanter" not the answer?

The midpoint between the ischial tuberosity and trochanter marks the line of the sciatic nerve.

Why is "Lower inner quadrant of the buttock" not the answer?

The lower inner quadrant lies over the course of the sciatic nerve and is dangerous.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Peripheral nerve injuries: gluteal injection injury in Orthopaedics. Injections should be placed in the upper outer quadrant, away from the nerve, and the common peroneal fibres within the sciatic trunk are the most vulnerable.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Peripheral nerve injuries: gluteal injection injury?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.