Investigation of suitability of ventrogluteal site for intramuscular injections in children aged 36 months and under.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine suitability of ventrogluteal (VG) site for intramuscular (IM) injections in children aged 36 months and under.

DESIGN AND METHODS: The present study was designed as a prospective descriptive study and performed between 2016 January and June. The study included a total of 120 children aged 36 months and under that met the study criteria. The subcutaneous tissue thickness and muscle thickness of anterolateral, deltoid, and VG sites were measured and assessed by ultrasound.

RESULT: A strong and powerful correlation was identified between the measurements of subcutaneous tissue and muscle thicknesses in the injection site by the age groups. The thickness of subcutaneous tissue was deltoid < anterolateral < VG by age groups. The muscle thickness of anterolateral and VG sites was significantly higher than that of deltoid site.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study established that skin thickness of VG site was suitable for IM injection in children aged 36 months and under.