Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2022

Abstract

Aims and objective(s)

The objective of this systematic review was to determine the needle length required to reach the dorsogluteal muscle based on body mass index and sex. Our aim was to provide evidence-based recommendations to current intramuscular injection guidelines from the result(s) of this review.

Background

Studies worldwide are documenting reduced medication effectiveness due to improperly placed dorsogluteal intramuscular injections because of incorrect needle length, wrong site selection and/or obesity. Current intramuscular injection guidelines lack specific instructions according to weight or sex. While there are similar concerns with other injectable sites, this review focuses solely on adult dorsogluteal intramuscular injections.

Design

A systematic review of relevant literature of dorsogluteal intramuscular injections based on body mass index and sex.

Methods

This systematic review was reported using the PRISMA checklist 2020. The review protocol was registered with Center for Open Science (OSF). We analysed 1,412 articles from nine databases. We compared twelve studies that utilised computerised tomography or ultrasonography using The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model and Guidelines.

Results

A significant number of dorsogluteal intramuscular injections are administered into subcutaneous tissue rather than muscle because needles are too short for populations with body mass indexes over 25, especially women. Poor landmarking often results in improperly placed injections.

Conclusions

To prevent administering a dorsogluteal intramuscular injection into subcutaneous tissue, women with a BMI of 25 and over require needles longer than 38 mm (1.5 inches). Men have less subcutaneous tissue in the dorsogluteal area and only require longer needles if BMI is 35 and over. If skin-to-muscle depth is questionable in either sex, an ultrasound-guided intramuscular injection is warranted for accurate dorsogluteal placement. Landmarking and needle length are key to appropriately placed IM injections.

Relevance to clinical practice

Dorsogluteal injections are often injected into subcutaneous tissue rather than muscle because needles are not long enough to reach muscle, especially in women. Critical elements that determine placement of intramuscular injections into muscle versus subcutaneous tissue are sex, BMI, needle length and landmarking.

Medications delivered into subcutaneous tissue may have reduced bioavailability.

Copyright Statement

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article:

Strohfus, P.; Palma, S.; and Tindell Wallace, C. (2022). "Dorsogluteal Intramuscular Injection Depth Needed to Reach Muscle Tissue According to Body Mass Index and Gender: A Systematic Review". JCN: Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(19-20), 2943-2958.

which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16126. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.

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