Digital anatomy of the gluteal intramascular injection site

Objective To provide morphological data of an algorithm for optimal the site and needle length for gluteal intramuscular injection in adults.Methods(1)Twenty-three embalmed cadavers were injected with red latex.The buttock injection sites were identified as a probe.Dissection,measurement and photography were used to document the precise soft tissue thickness and relationship between the sciatic nerve and the gluteal intramascular injection sites in the gluteal region;(2)Six fresh cadavers underwent whole-body lead oxide injection for three-dimensional reconstruction using a spiral CT scanner and specialized volume-rendering software.Results Mean soft tissues thickness at injection site was(6.63±1.06)cm,the depth from intergluteal fissure to iliac periosteum was(4.37±0.62)cm,the depth from skin to intergluteal fissure was(2.26±0.89)cm,the length from injection needle to main trunk of superior gluteal vessels and sciatic nerve was(5.87±0.93)cm and(7.46±0.94)cm respectively in trichotomy way.The length between reference point and sciatic nerve was(3.63±0.68)cm in crossing way.Conclusions The finding that buttock subcutaneous fat thickness exceeds the length of the most commonly used needle for intramuscular buttock injection (2.7～4.0cm),suggests that the currently used injection technique may not be therapeutically optimal.We suggest that a needle longer than 6 cm should be used in for intramuscular buttock injections in adults.