What are possible complications from IM injections?

The importance of good injection technique cannot be understated. It should not be forgotten that among potential complications of IM injection are abscess, cellulites, tissue necrosis, granuloma, muscle fibrosis, contractures, haematoma and injury to blood vessels, bones and peripheral nerves.

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What are the dangers and or complications associated with IM and SC injections?

Common complications:

Persistent pain at the site of injection.
Muscle fibrosis and contracture.
Abscess at the injection site.
Gangrene.

Do intramuscular injections cause damage?

The reported overall incidence of upper limb nerve injuries following intramuscular injection or routine venipuncture is rare. A study [1] estimated annual incidence of nerve injury was 3.38 per 1,000,000 intramuscular injections (8% of which involved upper limb) in children under 15 years of age.

What happens if you hit a blood vessel during an IM injection?

If you see blood in the syringe, you have hit a blood vessel. If you hit a vessel, pull the needle out of the skin. Get rid of the needle and syringe, and prepare a new syringe with medicine. Insert the new needle in a different spot, and check again to see if there is blood.

Can an IM injection cause nerve damage?

However, iatrogenic nerve injury has long been recognized as a common complication of IM injection. The sciatic nerve is the most commonly injured nerve following IM injection because of its large size and the fact that the buttock is a common injection site.

Can intramuscular injections cause nerve damage?

What happens if an IM injection hits a nerve?

Other injection site events If a nerve is hit, the patient will feel an immediate burning pain, which can result in paralysis or neuropathy that does not always resolve.

Can you get nerve damage from an IM injection?

What happens if an IM injection hits the sciatic nerve?

Sciatic nerve injury from an intramuscular (IM) injection into the buttock is potentially devastating. In severe cases, the hamstrings and all the muscles below the knee are paralysed resulting in a flail numb foot.

What happens if you get shot in an artery?

Hitting an artery can be painful and dangerous. Arterial blood travels away from the heart so whatever is injected goes straight to body limbs and extremities. Injection particles get stuck in blood capillaries and cut off circulation. This can result in a lack of blood flow, eventually causing the tissue to die.

What if im injection hits sciatic nerve?

Damage to the sciatic nerve can produce effects ranging from minor motor and sensory abnormalities to complete paralysis and causalgia, an excruciating and incapacitating pain that is resistant to analgesic treatment.

Can an intramuscular injection be given wrong?

Injections can also be administered in the wrong site. The most common error is steroid injections (for example, Kenalog) administered into the deltoid or thigh instead of gluteal muscle. Deep intramuscular steroid injections must be given into the large muscles of the buttock.

Can intramuscular injections cause muscle damage?

The microbes in injection substances, injection equipment or already-existing on the skin, can enter the body causing very serious infections. Similarly, incorrect injection techniques or erroneous injection locations, can cause blood vessel breakage, muscle or nerve damage and paralysis.

What happens if IM injection hit blood vessel?

What happens if you hit a nerve while injecting?

Unlike some veins, nerves are not visible from outside the body, although you will definitely know if you’ve hit one while injecting because you’ll experience extreme pain and no blood will enter the syringe when you pull back to register. You may feel an electric “burn” along your limb.

What happens if intramuscular injection hits a blood vessel?

How do you know if you hit a blood vessel while injecting?

Once you think you’re in a vein, pull the plunger back to see if blood comes into the syringe. If so, and the blood is dark red and slow moving, you know that you’ve hit a vein. You can now untie your tourniquet and proceed to inject your drugs.

What might happen if an intramuscular injection hits a nerve?

Other injection site events

If a nerve is hit, the patient will feel an immediate burning pain, which can result in paralysis or neuropathy that does not always resolve.

How do you know if you hit a nerve while injecting?

How do you know if you hit a blood vessel?

Any kind of bleeding — whether inside or outside the body — is a sign of vascular trauma. If you’ve crushed a vein or artery, you may feel pain or pressure, and see or feel a lump or bruise.
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Symptoms of vascular trauma can include:

Bleeding.
Swelling and/or pain.
Bruising.
A lump beneath your skin.

Which nerve is damaged during IM injection on arm?

Iatrogenic injuries due to intramuscular (IM) injection, although less frequently reported than before, are still common. The sciatic nerve is the most commonly injured nerve because of an IM injection owing to its large size and the buttock being a common injection site.

How do you know if you hit an artery?

Arteries are located deeper in the body than veins and so are not visible as many of your veins are. You’ll know you hit an artery if: The plunger of your syringe is forced back by the pressure of the blood. When you register, the blood in your syringe is bright red and ‘gushing.

What happens if you hit a vein during an IM injection?

If you hit a vessel, pull the needle out of the skin. Get rid of the needle and syringe, and prepare a new syringe with medicine. Insert the new needle in a different spot, and check again to see if there is blood. If there’s no blood in the syringe, slowly push the plunger all the way in.

How do you know if you hit a nerve when injecting?

What happens if you hit sciatic nerve with IM injection?

Many patients who experience such damage fail to make a full recovery, even with microsurgical repair. Affected patients typically experience immediate pain radiating down the limb, with weakness and numbness evolving more gradually and exacerbated by secondary scarring.

What happens if im injection hit blood vessel?

What happens if you accidentally inject air into vein?

When an air bubble enters a vein, it’s called a venous air embolism. When an air bubble enters an artery, it’s called an arterial air embolism. These air bubbles can travel to your brain, heart, or lungs and cause a heart attack, stroke, or respiratory failure. Air embolisms are rather rare.

How do I know if I missed my vein?

If you miss a vein, you may feel some pain and swelling where you’ve injected. Missing the vein raises the risk of an infection. Get some medical advice if the area gets hot, painful, swollen, red or dark (depending on your skin colour).

What are the signs of an accidental arterial puncture?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

bleeding has restarted.
swelling that is large or increasing in size.
numbness or pins and needles in the arm, hand or fingers.
severe or worsening pain.
coldness or paleness of the lower arm, or hand of the affected arm.

What happens if you hit a blood vessel while injecting?

How quickly do air embolism symptoms occur?

They can develop within 10 to 20 minutes or sometimes even longer after surfacing. Do not ignore these symptoms – get medical help immediately.

How can you tell if you puncture an artery instead of a vein?

Puncture of an artery may be more uncomfortable than puncture of a vein. This is because arteries are deeper than veins. Arteries also have thicker walls and have more nerves. When the needle is inserted, there may be some discomfort or pain.

What happens when you accidentally puncture artery?

Hematoma is reported as the most common complication of accidental arterial puncture. Hematoma may enlarge rapidly if the patient suffers from a coagulation disorder, or if a large puncture wound is produced by the introduction of the sheath itself into a major artery.

What can happen if air bubbles in injection?

What should you do if you suspect air embolism?

Air or gas embolisms can cause serious and potentially fatal conditions, such as a stroke or heart attack. Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if you or someone you’re with feels unwell after scuba diving and you suspect an air or gas embolism.

What are possible complications from IM injections?