Dong-Won Choi; Kyeong-Yae Sohng; Bum-Soo Kim

doi:10.4040/jkan.2010.40.6.844

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Original Article
Prediction of Optimal Gluteal Intramuscular Needle Length by Skinfold Thickness Measurements in Korean Adults: Dong-Won Choi, Kyeong-Yae Sohng, Bum-Soo Kim; Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2010;40(6):844-851.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.6.844
Published online: December 31, 2010

¹Assistant Professor, Red Cross College of Nursing, Seoul, Korea.

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

³Professor, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, 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: July 21, 2010 • Accepted: December 28, 2010

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Abstract
NOTES
REFERENCES

Abstract

Purpose
This study was conducted to assess optimal needle length for gluteal intramuscular injections (IM) via simple skinfold thickness (SFT).
Methods
For this study, 190 healthy adults were recruited and grouped into eight groups according to gender and body mass index (BMI) (kg/m²). The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity criteria defines a BMI under 20 as underweight, 20.1-22.9 as normal, 23-24.9 as overweight and over 25 as obese. For each participant, the SFT of dorsoguteal (DG) and ventrogluteal (VG) sites were measured using a caliper. Subcutaneous tissue thickness was acquired through ultrasonic images.
Results
For men in the overweight and obese groups at the DG site, for the obese group at the VG site, and for women in the normal weight, overweight and obese groups at both sites, the mean subcutaneous tissue thickness exceeded 1.84 cm, the minimal length for a 1 inch needle used for IM. At the DG site, optimal intramuscular needle length (OINL) was 1.4 times in women and 1.0 times in men compared to SFT. At the VG site, OINL was 1.3 times in women and 0.9 times in men compared to SFT.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that SFT is a reliable index to determine optimal needle length with minimal effort prior to IM.
Keywords: Intramuscular injection; Buttocks; Skinfold thickness; Ultrasonography; Subcutaneous tissue

This work was supported by the Korean Research Foundation Grant Funded by the Korean Government (KRF-2008-314-E00270).

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Figure 1

Axial ultrasonic image of gluteal site.

Table 1

Skinfold Thickness, Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness and Optimal Intramuscular Needle Length according to Gender and BMI at Dorsogluteal Site

BMI=body mass index; DG=dorsogluteal site; SFT=skinfold thickness; SCT=subcutaneous tissue thickness; ^*OINL=optimal intramuscular needle length (SCT+0.6 cm); RRIL=rate of reaching intramuscular layer; ^†OINL/SFT.

Table 2

Skinfold Thickness, Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness and Optimal Intramuscular Needle Length according to Sex and BMI in Ventrogluteal Site

BMI=body mass index; VG=ventrogluteal site; SFT=skinfold thickness; SCT=subcutaneous tissue thickness; ^*OINL=optimal intramuscular needle length (SCT+0.6 cm); RRIL=rate of reaching intramuscular layer; ^†OINL/SFT.

Table 3

Regression of Skinfold Thickness with Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness

DSCT=Dorsogluteal subcutaneous tissue thickness, VSCT=Ventrogluteal subcutaneous tissue thickness, DSFT=Dorsogluteal skinfold thickness, VSFT=Ventrogluteal skinfold thickness; x=Skinfold Thickness, y=Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness.

Figure & Data

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Prediction of Optimal Gluteal Intramuscular Needle Length by Skinfold Thickness Measurements in Korean Adults

J Korean Acad Nurs. 2010;40(6):844-851. Published online December 31, 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.6.844

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Prediction of Optimal Gluteal Intramuscular Needle Length by Skinfold Thickness Measurements in Korean Adults

Figure 1 Axial ultrasonic image of gluteal site.

Figure 1

Prediction of Optimal Gluteal Intramuscular Needle Length by Skinfold Thickness Measurements in Korean Adults

Table 1

Skinfold Thickness, Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness and Optimal Intramuscular Needle Length according to Gender and BMI at Dorsogluteal Site

Table 2

Skinfold Thickness, Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness and Optimal Intramuscular Needle Length according to Sex and BMI in Ventrogluteal Site

Table 3

Regression of Skinfold Thickness with Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness

Table 1 Skinfold Thickness, Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness and Optimal Intramuscular Needle Length according to Gender and BMI at Dorsogluteal Site

Table 2 Skinfold Thickness, Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness and Optimal Intramuscular Needle Length according to Sex and BMI in Ventrogluteal Site

Table 3 Regression of Skinfold Thickness with Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness