Gluteus medius injection?

Gluteus Medius Injection

Nobody actually needs an injection to be made in that specific area. It is mainly a matter of preferences by the person giving the injection. The important point is to avoid blood vessels or nerves, particularly the sciatic nerve, and some people believe it is safer on that account to go for the gluteus medius rather than the gluteus maximus. Another point is that the embarrassed patient does not have to pull pants down so far for the gluteus medius injection.

An injection into the gluteus medius is an ideal location to control the release of drugs. An injection into an muscle is called 'intramuscular admnistration' and is primarily used to slow down the release, distribution and absorption of drugs. The muscle is large (allowing a needle to reach) and contains a vast array of blood vessels.

The drug release rate is slower than an intravenous (IV) injection but faster than a subcutaneous (SC) injection. The pharmacokinetic advantage is to prolong the effect of the drug. Drug examples include vitamins or steroids.