The intramuscular injection can be applied to the gluteus, arm or thigh, and is used to administer vaccines or medicines like Voltaren or Benzetacil, for example.
To apply an intramuscular injection the following steps must be taken:
- Positioning the person according to the injection site, for example, if on the arm, should be seated, while on the gluteus should be lying on their belly down or on their side;
- Aspirate the medicine into the sterilized syringe with the help of a sterile needle;
- Pass an alcohol gauze on the skin at the injection site;
- Make a skin fold with the thumb and forefinger, in the case of the arm or thigh. It is not necessary to fold the gluteus;
- Insert the needle at a 90 ° angle, maintaining the fold. In the case of the injection of the injection into the gluteus, the needle must be inserted first and then the syringe is added;
- Push the syringe plunger slowly while holding the crease in the skin;
- Remove the injection, undo the skin fold and press with a clean gauze for 30 seconds;
- Place a Band Aid at the injection site.
If, when applying the injection, blood appears in the syringe, it is necessary to remove it and to insert it a little more to the side, because the presence of blood indicates that a blood vessel has been reached and that the injection will not be made in the muscle.
Intramuscular injections, especially in infants or young children, should only be performed by a trained nurse or pharmacist to prevent serious complications such as infection, abscess, or paralysis.
Choosing the Best Location
Intramuscular injection may be applied to the gluteus, arm or thigh, depending on the type of medicine and the amount to be administered:
1. Gluteal injection
To determine the exact location of intramuscular injection in the gluteus, divide the gluteus into 4 equal parts and place 3 fingers, diagonally, in the upper right quadrant, next to the intersection of the imaginary lines, as shown in the first image. In this way it is possible to avoid injuring the sciatic nerve which can cause paralysis.
When administering to the gluteus : it is the most used place in the injection of medicines very thick or with more than 3 mL, like Voltaren, Coltrax or Benzetacil.
2. Injection in the arm
The intramuscular injection site on the arm is the triangle marked in the image:
When administered to the buttock : Generally used to administer vaccines or medicines with less than 3 mL.
3. Thigh Injection
For injection into the thigh, the application site is on the outer side, one foot above the knee and one foot below the thigh bone, as shown in the image:
When administering to the buttock: This injection site is the safest because the risk of reaching a nerve or blood vessel is lower, so it should be preferred for someone who has little practice in injecting.
What happens if the injection is poorly applied
Poorly applied intramuscular injection can cause:
- Intense pain and hardening of the injection site;
- Redness of the skin;
- Decreased sensitivity at the application site;
- Swelling of the skin at the injection site;
- Paralysis or necrosis, which is the death of the muscle.
In this way, it is very important that the injection is preferably applied by a trained nurse or pharmacist, in order to avoid these complications that, in serious cases, could endanger the life of the person.
