Anthropometric measurements of the ventrogluteal injectıon area: A cross-sectional study

Research Problem / Aim: The ventrogluteal injection area is one of the areas most frequently used by nurses in intramuscular injection applications. The thicknesses of the subcutaneous tissue and the muscle tissue in this area are important for a safe injection. The aim of this study is the determination of the subcutaneous and muscle tissue thicknesses on the ventrogluteal injection area and the anthropometric data about it. Method: The study has designed a cross-sectional study. 150 individuals who applied to the ultrasound unit of the hospital and accepted to participate in the study were included in the study. The ventrogluteal injection area was determined with the ‘’V’’ method by the researcher. The subcutaneous and muscle tissue thicknesses from the areas on the injection area and the areas 2 and 4 cm around the injection area were determined using the ultrasound device. Moreover, the relation between the anthropometric measurements of the individuals (height, weight, waist, hip and crista iliaca circumferences, distance between the large trochanter and crista iliaca and crista iliaca anterior) and the tissue thicknesses on the injection area were evaluated. The data of the research were evaluated with definitive statistics, ANOVA test and posthoc Tukey test, t test and correlation analysis. The p<0.05 value was accepted as statistically significant for all results. Findings: The average subcutaneous tissue thickness in the injection area was determined as 15.44±8.01 mm and the average tissue thickness there was determined as 31.75±11.86 mm. The subcutaneous tissue thickness in women was found more than the subcutaneous tissue thickness in men. When the tissue thicknesses 2 and 4 cm around the injection area were analyzed, it was found that the area where the total tissue thickness was the least was over 2 cm (41.67±14.83) and over 4 cm (35.79±15.55) of the injection area. It was determined that the average total thickness 4 cm around the injection area was less than 38 mm in underwight individuals. Conclusions: According to the results obtained from the study, the weight and body mass index of the individual should be considered in the choice of the injection area and the length of the needle to be used when the ventrogluteal injection area was used in intramuscular injections. Especially in obese individuals, longer needles can be preferred. Besides, it must be thought that there may be the risk of bone injury 4 cm around the injection area in asthenic individuals and individuals with normal weight. Moreover, since the individuals’ having a large waist and hip circumference is related to their subcutaneous tissue thickness, it is recommended that long needles should be chosen in these individuals