Part of the aging process involves a loss in muscle tissue called atrophy. Confinement to bed or serious illness may accelerate muscle tissue loss. Because of this tissue loss, receiving an intramuscular injection can result in complications in the elderly, according to the Merck Manual of Geriatrics.
Abscess and Infection
The development of an abscess or infection at the site of an intramuscular injection may be a result of pocketing of medication within a muscle without absorption. Signs and symptoms at the site may include redness, pain, heat, swelling and possibly drainage. Infection may also result from a contaminated needle or the lack of site preparation according to WoundResearch.com. Without evaluation, infection may lead to tissue damage, gangrene or necrosis from bacteria within the site.
Intravascular Injections
Unintended intravascular injection involves delivering a direct injection into a vein or an artery rather than a muscle. According to WoundResearch.com, careful attention to physical landmarks before injection and following specific injection techniques can help prevent direct injection. A direct injection may cause a life-threatening situation as the medication is meant to be absorbed over a longer period of time. Muscle tissue loss in the elderly may require reassessing the route of administration.
Nerve Damage
Damage to a nerve may cause sharp pain at the site, numbness and tingling in the extremity, partial paralysis if the damage is extensive and disability, according to WoundResearch.com. Noting appropriate landmarks before injecting and assessing muscle mass at the site may help avoid this complication. Drugs.com recommends giving special attention to the selection of the needle size and length to decrease this problem.
Malignancies
A rare occurrence associated with intramuscular injections is malignancies, according to WoundResearch.com. The presenting symptoms may include continuous pain and a nodule at the site of a previous injection. An extended period of time may have elapsed since the injection. This kind of malignancy is a soft tissue sarcoma, a connective tissue form of cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Connective tissue includes bone, cartilage, muscle and fatty tissues.
