Muscle injections generally do not injure the sciatic nerve. When intramuscular injections are given in the buttocks, they are generally given in the outer upper quadrant of the buttocks in order to avoid the location of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve travels in the inner upper quadrant of the buttock toward the center of the buttock and downward. Routinely, prior to injection, zonation is performed in the gluteal region using a criss-cross method. Injections are usually performed in the upper outer quadrant, avoiding the inner corner, because the sciatic nerve may cross in the vicinity of the inner corner. The skin surface should be intact and free of redness, swelling, hardness, pain and scarring before injection.