Intramuscular gluteal injections in the increasingly obese population: retrospective study.

AIMS To examine depth of subcutaneous fat at gluteal intramuscular injection sites. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING General hospital. PARTICIPANTS 100 consecutive adults who had computed tomography of the pelvis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Minimum distance between the surface of the skin and the nearest edge of muscle at intramuscular injection sites. RESULTS 12 patients had a ventrogluteal site depth of more than 35 mm, the maximum depth of a green needle, and 26 had a ventrogluteal depth of more than 25 mm, the maximum depth of a blue needle. 43 patients had a dorsogluteal site depth of more than 35 mm, and 72 had a dorsogluteal depth of more than 25 mm. The intramuscular site was likely to be deeper in women. CONCLUSION Standard green and blue needles do not reach the gluteal muscles in a considerable number of patients.