Gaeul Joo; Kyeong-Yae Sohng

doi:10.4040/jkan.2010.40.2.247

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Original Article
Gluteal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Measured by Computed Tomography as an Estimate of Proper Gluteal Intramuscular Injections in Korean Adults: Gaeul Joo, Kyeong-Yae Sohng; Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2010;40(2):247-254.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.2.247
Published online: April 30, 2010

¹Research Assistant, College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

²Professor, College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Sohng, Kyeong-Yae. College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2258-7410, Fax: 82-2-2258-7772, sky@catholic.ac.kr

• Received: September 17, 2009 • Revised: September 18, 2009 • Accepted: March 30, 2010

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Abstract
NOTES
REFERENCES

Abstract

Purpose
To study the thickness of gluteal subcutaneous fat (SCF) and propose an adequate length for needle for gluteal intramuscular injections based on computed tomography (CT) measurements.
Methods
The thickness of gluteal SCF were measured and studied for 568 patients who visited a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea between January 2007 and February 2009 for routine health screening and who had abdominopelvic CT.
Results
The average thickness of gluteal SCF was 15.92±4.08 mm in males and 24.90±5.47 mm in females. The thickness of gluteal SCF differed significantly according to gender. The gluteal SCF thickness was greater than 20.4 mm for 54 (12.3%) of the 440 male patients and 99 (77.3%) of the 128 female patients.
Conclusion
The most common syringe needle used for gluteal intramuscular injections in Korea is a 23 G, 25.4 mm-needle. The SCF thickness must be less than 20.4 mm in order to reach the dorsogluteal muscles to a depth of at least 5 mm if this 25.4 mm needle is used. In many patients, especially in female patients, the 25.4 mm needles will result in improper intramuscular injections with the injection being into the SCF. Therefore an appropriate needle should be selected by considering the gender and SCF thickness of patients receiving gluteal intramuscular injections.
Keywords: Injections; Intramuscular; Needles; Subcutaneous fat

This article is a revision of the first author's master's thesis from the Catholic University of Korea.

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Figure 1

CT image demonstrating the location of landmarks for gluteal fat measurement.

Table 1

General Characteristics of the Participants (N=568)

Table 2

Differences in Subcutaneous Fat Thickness between Gender (N=568)

SFT=subcutaneous fat thickness.

Table 3

Correlation of Age and BMI with Subcutaneous Fat Thickness (N=568)

SFT=subcutaneous fat thickness; BMI=body mass index.

Table 4

Regression of BMI with Subcutaneous Fat Thickness (N=568)

x=BMI; y=subcutaneous fat thickness.

Table 5

Difference of Subcutaneous Thickness between BMI Groups (N=568)

^*Scheffe's test.

Figure & Data

REFERENCES

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Gluteal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Measured by Computed Tomography as an Estimate of Proper Gluteal Intramuscular Injections in Korean Adults

J Korean Acad Nurs. 2010;40(2):247-254. Published online April 30, 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.2.247

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Gluteal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Measured by Computed Tomography as an Estimate of Proper Gluteal Intramuscular Injections in Korean Adults

Figure 1 CT image demonstrating the location of landmarks for gluteal fat measurement.

Figure 1

Gluteal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Measured by Computed Tomography as an Estimate of Proper Gluteal Intramuscular Injections in Korean Adults

Table 1

General Characteristics of the Participants (N=568)

Table 2

Differences in Subcutaneous Fat Thickness between Gender (N=568)

SFT=subcutaneous fat thickness.

Table 3

Correlation of Age and BMI with Subcutaneous Fat Thickness (N=568)

SFT=subcutaneous fat thickness; BMI=body mass index.

Table 4

Regression of BMI with Subcutaneous Fat Thickness (N=568)

x=BMI; y=subcutaneous fat thickness.

Table 5

Difference of Subcutaneous Thickness between BMI Groups (N=568)

^*Scheffe's test.

Table 1 General Characteristics of the Participants (N=568)

Table 2 Differences in Subcutaneous Fat Thickness between Gender (N=568)

SFT=subcutaneous fat thickness.

Table 3 Correlation of Age and BMI with Subcutaneous Fat Thickness (N=568)

SFT=subcutaneous fat thickness; BMI=body mass index.

Table 4 Regression of BMI with Subcutaneous Fat Thickness (N=568)

x=BMI; y=subcutaneous fat thickness.

Table 5 Difference of Subcutaneous Thickness between BMI Groups (N=568)

^*Scheffe's test.