Adverse effects of dorsogluteal intramuscular injection versus ventrogluteal intramuscular injection: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

AIMS: To determine adverse effects of ventrogluteal intramuscular injections versus dorsogluteal intramuscular injections. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL, CENTRAL, LILACS(BVS), BDENF (BVS), WoS, IRCTP(WHO), ClinicalsTrials.gov and PROSPERO databases were searched with no restriction on year or language. Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. RESULTS: A total of 1429 participants from 17 studies were included. The meta‐analysis found that ventrogluteal injection site had significant relation to lower pain in 9 studies (SMD = −0.63, 95% CI = −0.87, −0.39), bleeding in 4 studies (SMD = −3.46, 95% CI = −6.07, –0.86) and hematoma in 2 studies; after 48 h (SMD = −0.25, 95% CI = −0.39, −0.11), and after 72 h (SMD = −0.16, 95% CI = −0.26, –0.06), if it was compared with dorsogluteal site injection. No differences were found when comparing the possibility of intramuscular injections given into de subcutaneous tissue. In three studies, ventrogluteal site did not significantly reduce the risk of subcutaneous injection (OR 0,62, 95% CI = 0.16, 2.41).