[Neonatal sciatic palsy: etiology and outcome of 21 cases]

Sciatic nerve paralysis is a rare entity in the newborn. Few reference in specialized tests indicate that in the majority of cases the sciatic palsy has been observed after misplaced injections into the buttocks. The prognosis is variable and appears to be better after umbilical vessel catheterization for injection of medications than after misplaced muscular injections. In case of recovery it takes place within 3 to 12 months.

The objective of the present study is to know the evolution of neonatal sciatic palsy and to determine their injury noxe in regard to perinatal factors, and their relationship with long-time outcome, and to look for prognostic clues of clinical utility.

We evaluated perinatal factors of newborn children with sciatic nerve paralysis, followed for more than 18 months of clinical evolution, in a neuropediatric centre.

Twenty one newborn with such criteria were evaluated. Gestational age was within 32 and 42 weeks (median 38.2). The birth weight was between 2,100 and 4,100 g (median 2,973). The majority of cases obtained total recovery (16 of 21). The time of recovery was 4 to 14 months (median 8.8). Free ambulation was obtained by all cases (at 10 to 24 months). No apparent cause was observed in the majority of cases. Cesarean delivery was more frequent specially in cases with permanent consequences.

Long-time prognostic of neonatal sciatic palsy is generally good. In our series all the cases with consequences were associated to cesarean delivery. The duration of cesarean intervention and the anesthesic hypotony of the newborn could be implicated in the sciatic nerve injury of poor outcome.