Abstract
An intramuscular injection (IMI) is an injection given directly into the central area of a specific muscle. Certain medicines need to be administered by the gluteal route for these to be effective. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of body mass index (BMI), subcutaneous fat, and muscular thickness of the dorsogluteal IMI site among healthy Japanese women. There were 39 healthy female subjects who volunteered and met the criteria. Their ages ranged from 40s to 60s (50.82 ± 6.04). With the data collected using the B-mode ultrasound images of the dorsogluteal site, it was found that the distance from the epidermis to the under-fascia (DEUF) of the gluteus maximus was dissimilar between the subject’s right and left buttocks. It was found that the distance from the epidermis to the iliac bone (DEI) was significantly more on the right than on the left buttocks. In the case of an adult Japanese woman with a BMI of 21 or more, the DEUF of the gluteus medius was found to be about 30 mm, and the DEI was approximately 50 mm or more. Based on these findings, it is recommended that a needle length of 38 mm (1.5 inches) can be safely used to administer IMIs to the gluteus medius muscle to effectively and efficiently deliver medications through the IMI route.
Highlights
An intramuscular injection (IMI) is a method of administering medications deep into the central area of specific muscle tissues
There was a significant difference between Group A and Group B in distance from the epidermis to the under-fascia (DEUF) measurements of the gluteus maximus muscle the left side (15.45 ± 3.36 vs 19.74 ± 5.20, p < 0.01)
The right side DEI, both sides of DEUF of the gluteus medius, and left side of DEUF of the gluteus maximus were significantly greater in Group B (BMI ≧ 21 kg/m2) measurements than in Group A (BMI < 21 kg/m2)
Summary
An intramuscular injection (IMI) is a method of administering medications deep into the central area of specific muscle tissues. This route of administration provides rapid system absorption of medications enhancing the effects of the medications. The most common reasons for preferring the deltoid muscle for IMIs instead of other muscles include easier access, enhanced privacy causing less embarrassment due to exposure of human body parts, and faster administration with the expectation of less pain, than injection through the gluteus route. It was considered that a long acting injection is better administered intramuscularly using the gluteal muscles, and we have to consider the volume, property of drug and its safety and absorption such as damage to tissues including subcutaneous and blood vessel or peripheral nerve
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