## Overview Sciatic nerve injury affects the major nerve supplying the muscles below the stifle. Damage from injections, fractures, or compression causes loss of hock flexion and digit extension, knuckling, dragging of the limb, and eventual atrophy of the entire gaskin. The nerve runs beneath the biceps femoris. ## Causes Injection trauma, pelvic or femoral fracture, or compression. ## Diagnosis Neurologic examination showing characteristic deficits. ## Treatment Supportive care and protection of the limb. Recovery depends on the severity of nerve damage. ## Recovery and Prognosis Variable. Partial injuries may improve. Complete severance has a poor outlook. ## Prevention Careful injection technique in the hindquarter.
loss of function below the stifle; inability to flex the hock or extend the digit; knuckling; dragging the hind limb; gaskin muscle atrophy
## Overview Sciatic nerve injury affects the major nerve supplying the muscles below the stifle. Damage from injections, fractures, or compression causes loss of hock flexion and digit extension, knuckling, dragging of the limb, and eventual atrophy of the entire gaskin. The nerve runs beneath the biceps femoris. ## Causes Injection trauma, pelvic or femoral fracture, or compression. ## Diagnosis Neurologic examination showing characteristic deficits. ## Treatment Supportive care and protection of the limb. Recovery depends on the severity of nerve damage. ## Recovery and Prognosis Variable. Partial injuries may improve. Complete severance has a poor outlook. ## Prevention Careful injection technique in the hindquarter.
loss of function below the stifle; inability to flex the hock or extend the digit; knuckling; dragging the hind limb; gaskin muscle atrophy