Intramuscular Injection
An intramuscular injection is a technique used to deliver medication into a muscle. It is one of the methods for parenteral administration. Intramuscular injection is abbreviated as IM.
Methods for parenteral administration also include –
1. Subcutaneous injection (SC)
Checkout here 4 subcutaneous
injection sites for administer SC injection.
2. Intravenous injection (IV)
Read here details on intravenous
injection; how to inject IV injection?
3. Intradermal injection (IM)
Angle of IM injections
Intramuscular (IM) injection is given into the
muscle at a 90-degree angle.
For IM injections; choose the medical needle that are thicker and longer.
The Gauge needle size 20G or 22 G, 1 inch or 1 and half
inch long are usually best.
Know sc
injection angle to administer medication by subcutaneous route.
Intramuscular
Injection Sites
Intramuscular injections (IM) are often
given in the following areas of the body-
1. Deltoid muscle of the arm
2. Vastus lateralis muscle of the thigh
3. Ventrogluteal muscle of the hip
4. Dorsogluteal muscles of the buttocks
1. Deltoid Muscle of the Arm
The deltoid muscle of the arm is the most common
site for vaccines. This site is located in
your upper arm, just below your shoulder.
To find injection site of the deltoid muscle-
Place your palm of the hand on
the shoulder and feel for
the acromion process bone at the top of the upper arm.
From the acromion process below two finger-widths, mark this site to find the deltoid muscle.
Then open
out your thumb and use other fingers to form an upside-down V shape.
There is a triangular muscle. Make sure that the triangular muscle of the arm is
cantered in your V shape. The needle should inject in the triangle’s
center.
2. Vastus lateralis Muscle of the Thigh
In infant's thigh muscle; vastus lateralis muscle is the preferred site
for Intermuscular injection.
Vastus lateralis muscle are located on lateral
side of the thigh.
To find the site of injection divides the upper thigh into
three equal parts; from top to bottom of
the thigh.
Locate the middle of these three sections.
To inject into the vastus lateralis, the injection should go into the outer top portion of middle
section.
The rectus femoris muscle of
the thigh is located in the middle third, at the front of the thigh. It can be used
for injection sites for IM injection.
3. Ventrogluteal Muscle of the Hip
The ventrogluteal muscle of the hip is the safest
site for adults and children.
Ventrogluteal muscle site used to deliver
medication deep into muscles and it not close to any major blood vessels and
nerves.
To find Ventrogluteal muscle: place the heel of your
hand on the patient's opposite hip; greater trochanter.
For example,
Place your left hand on the right hip with the
thumb pointed toward the belly button.
Make a V-shape the first and second
fingers, pointing the index finger towards the iliac crest.
The site of injection is located within V shape
in the gluteus medius muscle when the forefinger (index finger) and
second finger are spread out.
Injection is given V-formed site; inject the
needle into the V-formed site between your index and middle fingers.
4. Dorsogluteal Muscles of the Buttocks
Dorsogluteal muscles of buttocks used for the
site of intramuscular injection.
Keep in mind there is a potential risk of injury
to the sciatic nerve, so given carefully.
To find the site of injection;-
Divide the buttock into four-quadrant, inject
the needle in the center of the upper, outer quadrant. this site is safe for buttock injection.
Note- Avoid other Quadrants injection in other quadrants may cause injury to the sciatic
nerve.
Checkout here what are intradermal
injection sites to administer medication?
Special Considerations for IM Injection
The dorsogluteal site should be avoided
for IM injections.
If misplaced intramuscular injection site, a needle
can hit or injured the sciatic nerve and damage the nerve, the patient may get partial
or permanent paralysis of the leg.
Medication Administered Route of IM
Injection such as- Streptomycin, Penicillin G, etc.
Complications of Intramuscular Injections
These are the potential complications of IM injection-
1. Severe pain at the injection site.
2. Tingling or numbness.
3. Redness, swelling, warmth at site of injection.
4. Potential to injury of the sciatic
nerve in gluteal injection and feel immediate burning pain.
5. Potential to injury of
the femoral nerve in vastus lateralis injection and feel immediate burning
pain.
6. Allergic reactions, such as sign-in difficulty
breathing or facial swelling.
7. Abscess or collection of pus.
8. Tissue necrosis or tissue death.
9. Granuloma or inflammation in the tissue.
10. Muscle fibrosis, or scarring of muscle
tissue.
11. Injury to blood vessels and nerves.
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