Intramuscular Injection Guidelines

for Needle Length and Gauge Selection*

Needle Needle Needle
INTRAMUSCULAR (IM)** Location of Injection Length Gauge Angle

Infants < 18 months Vastus lateralis muscle (_ 0.5

< mL vol.) 7/8" - 1" 25 - 27 G 90

Deltoid muscle
Pediatric Children Ventrogluteal site
(>18 months and walking Dorsogluteal sitenot 7/8" - 1 1/4" 22 - 25 G 90
to 18 years) recommended for <3 years
Vastus lateralis muscle

Deltoid muscle, Ventrogluteal site

may be best site for cachectic adults 1" - 1 1/2"
Adult > 18 years Dorsogluteal site (up to 3" for 19 - 25 G 90
avoid in obese adults large adults)
Vastus lateralis muscle

* Adapted from Fundamentals of Nursing: Human Health and Function, R. Craven, C. Hirnle, 4th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2003
** Prior to administering an IM injection, refer to your procedure manual to determine the injection site utilizing body landmarks.

30 G 29 G 28 G 27 G 26 G 25 G 24 G 23 G 22 G 21 G 20 G 19 G 18 G

ISO Hub Color Standards for safety-engineered needles

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 Intramuscular (IM) Injection Guidelines:
Injection Route: Injection Sites:
Greater Iliac crest
trochanter
of femur Anterior
Injection superior iliac
90
90 Site spine

The vastus lateralis

site is in the lateral Greater
dermis middle trochanter
middle third of the
third Injection thigh between the
subcutaneous of vastus
tissue Site greater trochanter
lateralis The ventrogluteal site: place the palm
and the knee.
muscle over the greater trochanter, form a V, with
When injecting, lift
the middle finger toward the iliac crest and
muscle the vastus lateralis
the index finger toward the anterior superior
muscle away from
Lateral iliac spine. Inject within the center of the
the bone.
femoral V, below the anterior superior iliac crest.
condyle
Injection
Procedure:
Spread the skin taut, Clavicle Acromion Injection Posterior
(except in vastus lateralis process Site superior
iliac spine
which requires lifting the Injection
Scapula Imaginary line
muscle) and insert the Site
Axilla
needle at a 90 angle.
Greater
Pull back plunger trochanter
slightly. If blood appears,
Humerus
remove needle, dispose
properly and prepare The dorsogluteal site is
a new injection. The thickest part of the deltoid muscle above an imaginary line
is 2.5-5cm (1-3 finger breadths) below the between the greater trochanter and the posterior
If no blood is present lower edge of acromion process of the superior iliac crest. The injection is administered
inject medication slowly. scapula over the midaxillary line. laterally and superior to this imaginary line.

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