Intramuscular injection

IM into the leg

Intramuscular (also IM or im) injection is the injection of a substance directly into a muscle. In medicine, it is one of several alternative methods for the administration of medications (see route of administration). It is used for particular forms of medication that are administered in small volumes. Depending on the chemical properties of the drug, the medication may either be absorbed fairly quickly or more gradually. Muscles have larger and more blood vessels than subcutaneous tissue and injections here usually have faster rates of absorption than subcutaneous injections or intradermal injections.[1] Depending on the injection site, an administration is limited to between 2 and 5 milliliters of fluid.

Uses

A child receiving a gluteal (buttocks) injection.

Examples of medications that are sometimes administered intramuscularly are:

A woman holds a baby while another woman prepares to inject a vaccine.
Vaccines are often administered as IM injections.

In addition, some vaccines are administered intramuscularly:

Platelet-rich plasma injections can be administered intramuscularly.

Certain substances (e.g. ketamine) are injected intramuscularly for recreational purposes.

Injection sites

Possible sites for IM injection include: deltoid, dorsogluteal, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and ventrogluteal muscles.[2] Sites that are bruised, tender, red, swollen, inflamed or scarred are avoided.[1]

The deltoid muscle site (upper arm) is recommended for use with injections of small volume, usually equal or less than 1 ml, including vaccinations.[2] This site is not recommended for repeated injections, due to its small area, it is difficult to rotate the injection site.[2] To locate the site, palpate the lower edge of the acromion process. Inject in the upside down triangle that forms with its base at the acromion process and its midpoint in line with the axilla.[1]

The ventrogluteal site (hip) is recommended for injections requiring a larger volume to be administered, greater than 1 ml, including medications in oil, narcotic, antibiotic, sedative and anti-emetic medications.[2] This site is not recommended for infants less than 7 months old or those unable to walk with loss of muscular tone.[2] For these patients it is recommended to use the vastus lateralis (thigh) injection site.[2] To locate the ventrogluteal site, place the palm of your hand over the greater trochanter, with the fingers facing the patient's head. The right hand is used for the left hip and left hand is used for the right hip. Place the index finger on the anterior superior iliac spine and run the middle finger back along the iliac crest. The injection is given in the center of the triangle that is formed.[1]

Vastus lateralis muscle

The vastus lateralis site is the recommended site for infants less than 7 months old and those unable to walk, with loss of muscular tone.[2] To locate the site, divide the front thigh into thirds vertically and horizontally to make nine squares and inject in the outer middle square.[1]

The dorsogluteal (buttock) site is not recommended for use in any patient population due to its location near major blood vessels and nerves, as well as having inconsistent depth of adipose tissue, with very few injections in this area injected to the correct depth to administer as a true intramuscular injection.[2][3] Use of this site is associated with skin and tissue trauma, muscle fibrosis and contracture, haematoma, nerve palsy and paralysis, as well as infectious processes such as abscess and gangrene.[2] Despite the goal of healthcare in many countries to follow evidence based practices, this site is commonly preferred by healthcare professionals against research recommendation, often due to a lack of knowledge surrounding alternative sites for injection.[4] The injection site is located by dividing the buttock into four with a plus (+) shaped cross, and administering the injection in the upper outer quadrant. This is the only intramuscular injection site for which research recommends aspiration (drawing back) of the syringe prior to injection, due to higher likelihood of accidental intravenous administration in this area.[2]

Deltoid muscle

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor, C. R., Lillis, C., LeMone, P., Lynn, P. (2011) Fundamentals of nursing: The art and science of nursing care. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, page 751.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mann, E. (2016). Injection (Intramuscular): Clinician Information. The Johanna Briggs Institute.
  3. ↑ Farley, H. F., Joyce, N., Long, B., & Roberts, R. (1986). Will that IM needle reach the muscle? American Journal of Nursing, 86(12), 1327-1331
  4. ↑ Cocoman, A., & Murray, J. (2010). Recognizing the evidence and changing practice on injection sites. British Journal of Nursing, 19(18), 1170-1174.
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