Editing Intramuscular injection (section)

==Risks and complications==
[[File:Needle safety demo.gif|thumb|right|Using safety needles that prevent more than one use and accidental injections ensures sterility and prevents [[needlestick injuries]].]]

As an injection necessitates piercing the skin, there is a risk of infection from [[bacteria]] or other organisms present in the environment or on the skin before the injection. This risk is minimized by using proper [[aseptic technique]] in preparing the injection and sanitizing the injection site before administration.<ref name=LippNurs7 />{{rp|369}} Intramuscular injections may also cause an abscess or gangrene at the injection site, depending on the specific medication and amount administered. There is also a risk of nerve or vascular injury if a nerve or blood vessel is inadvertently hit during injection. If single-use or sterilized equipment is not used, there is the risk of transmission of infectious disease between users, or to a practitioner who inadvertently injures themselves with a used needle, termed a [[needlestick injury]].<ref name="Polania" /><ref name=LippNurs7 />{{rp|372}}

===Site-specific complications===
Injections into the deltoid site in the arm can result in unintentional damage to the [[radial nerve|radial]] and [[axillary nerve]]s. In rare cases when not performed properly, the injection may result in shoulder dysfunction.<ref name="HVI">{{cite journal |last1=Cook |first1=Ian F |title=Best vaccination practice and medically attended injection site events following deltoid intramuscular injection |journal=Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics |date=4 May 2015 |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=1184–1191 |doi=10.1080/21645515.2015.1017694|pmid=25868476 |pmc=4514326 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The most frequent complications of a deltoid injection include pain, redness, and inflammation around the injection site, which are almost always mild and last only a few days at most.<ref name="Vaccine2017">{{cite journal |last1=Martín Arias |first1=L.H. |last2=Sanz Fadrique |first2=R. |last3=Sáinz Gil |first3=M. |last4=Salgueiro-Vazquez |first4=M.E. |title=Risk of bursitis and other injuries and dysfunctions of the shoulder following vaccinations |journal=Vaccine |date=September 2017 |volume=35 |issue=37 |pages=4870–4876 |doi=10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.07.055|pmid=28774564 }}</ref>

The dorsogluteal site of injection is associated with a higher risk of skin and tissue trauma, muscle [[Injection fibrosis|fibrosis]] or [[contracture]], [[hematoma]], nerve [[palsy]], [[paralysis]], and infections such as [[abscess]]es and [[gangrene]].<ref name="JBI" /> Furthermore, injection in the gluteal muscle poses a risk for damage to the [[sciatic nerve]], which may cause shooting pain or a sensation of burning. Sciatic nerve damage can also affect a person's ability to move their foot on the affected side, and other parts of the body controlled by the nerve. Damage to the sciatic nerve can be prevented by using the ventrogluteal site instead, and by selecting an appropriate size and length of needle for the injection.<ref name="JIMR2014">{{cite journal |last1=Jung Kim |first1=Hyun |last2=Hyun Park |first2=Sang |title=Sciatic nerve injection injury |journal=Journal of International Medical Research |date=August 2014 |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=887–897 |doi=10.1177/0300060514531924|pmid=24920643 |doi-access=free }}</ref>