Morfologia e morfometria da região deltoidea aplicada à injeções intramusculares

Abstract

Similar to all intramuscular injections, those given in the deltoid region should be performed in the denser part of the muscle, in an imaginary triangle below the acromion to the deltoid tuberosity. Despite being one of the most used, it is the one that most poses a risk to the patient integrity, as they cause skin, muscle, vascular or neural lesions. Thus, the aim of this work was to analyze the morphology and morphometry of this region, and to establish parameters of variation between individuals and correlations with neurovascular structures. Thirty upper limbs of adult human cadavers, unknown sex, fixed in formalin solution and prepared following dissection techniques were used. Parameters of length, width, thickness and distance between the neurovascular bundle to intramuscular injection point were verified using a digital caliper. It was observed that in 100% of the limbs, the deltoid muscle presented three multipenate bellies. The lateral margin length (16.71 ± 1.21 cm) was significantly lower compared to the anterior (18.69 ± 1.84 cm) and posterior (20.14 ± 2.08 cm) margins. The thickness of the anterior belly (1.62 ± 0.59 cm) was lower than that of the posterior belly (2.03 ± 0.53 cm) and similar to that of the lateral belly (1.75 ± 0.41cm). The total width of the muscle was 12.87 ± 1.97 cm, while the distance from the neurovascular bundle to the intramuscular injection point was 2.85 ± 1.16 cm. There was no morphometric difference between the antimeres, except for the anterior belly thickness with higher value on the right antimere. It can be concluded that, considering all parameters analyzed, the neurovascular bundle is located in the posterior and posterolateral parts of the muscle and, therefore, within the intramuscular injection area. Thus, the anterior two thirds of this area is suggested as preferable for intramuscular injection administration.