Any damage to the sciatic nerve can cause severe damage to the nerve, which in turn can cause complete loss of function of the limb.
There are many important structures, leg arteries, veins and
nerves running through muscle tissue.
Some of the disadvantages of using the semitendinosus muscle for intramuscular injections are:
- The biggest disadvantage is the possibility of causing damage to the nerves along the semitendinosus muscle that could cause paralysis in the limb where the injection was given.
Damage done can result in temporary or permanent nerve damage as well as muscle irritation.
- Intramuscular injections in to the semitendinosus muscle should only be done by an expert and trained person. The proper technique for intramuscular injections must be fully understood due to the location of the nerves. This therefore limits who are adequately
qualified to administer such an injection.
- The absorption of giving such an injection is determined by the bulk
of the muscle available as well as its vascularity.
- The onset and duration of the drug action is not adjustable.
- Only small and appropriate volumes should be administered via the intramuscular route.
- When giving an intramuscular injection at this site, the animal might
react which in itself could cause nerve damage (with even a trained,
qualified person)
Some of the problems that could occur if you chose the semitendinosus muscle for intramuscular injections could include:
- infection is one of the most common problems that can occur
- abcessation can occur at the injection site
- bacteria can be introduced into the tissue when the needle punctures the skin
- Tiny pieces of hair/fur can also be taken into the tissue when injecting
- The needle can accidentally be placed in a blood vessel (artery)