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Intramuscular injections into the buttocks: are they truly intramuscular?
V O Chan1, J Colville, T Persaud
1Department of Radiology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland.
European Journal of Radiology
|February 24, 2006
Summary
Most buttock intramuscular (IM) injections are actually subcutaneous, with significantly lower efficacy in females. This highlights a critical issue in medication administration and patient care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
- Anatomy
Background:
- Intramuscular (IM) injections into the gluteal region are common for medication delivery.
- Accurate IM injection placement is crucial for proper drug absorption and efficacy.
- Previous studies have questioned the accuracy of IM injection techniques in the buttocks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To radiologically verify the true anatomical location of IM injections administered into the buttock.
- To assess the accuracy of IM injections in the upper outer quadrant of the gluteal region.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 50 inpatients receiving an IM buttock injection with air contrast.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scans were used to visualize the injected air bubble's position.
- Radiologists analyzed CT images to differentiate between intramuscular and subcutaneous placement, measuring relevant anatomical factors.
Main Results:
- Only 32% of all injections were confirmed as truly intramuscular.
- A significant majority (68%) of injections were found to be subcutaneous.
- Intramuscular injection success rates differed markedly by gender: 56% in males versus only 8% in females.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates that most presumed IM gluteal injections are incorrectly administered subcutaneously.
- Gender significantly impacts the accuracy of IM buttock injections, with females experiencing much lower success rates.
- Findings indicate a need to review and improve IM injection techniques in clinical practice.
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