Which action is used to prevent medication from leaking along the needle track during intramuscular injection?

Which action is used to prevent medication from leaking along the needle track during intramuscular injection?

• A. Massaging the injection site after injection
• B. Keeping the patient still during injection
• C. Z-track technique
• D. Reusing the needle for subsequent injections

Answer: (D)

Preventing medication from leaking along the needle track is done with the Z-track technique. By pulling the skin and underlying tissue to one side before inserting the needle, you create a zigzag path that seals the needle tract when the needle is withdrawn. This containment keeps the solution inside the muscle, reducing leakage into subcutaneous tissue and preventing skin staining or irritation from the injection. To use this method, once you’re about to inject, gently move the skin and tissue to the side, insert the needle, deliver the medication, and then release the tissue before withdrawing. The released skin covers the tract, effectively trapping the medication in the muscle. The other actions don’t address leakage: massaging after injection can push medication along the track; keeping the patient still is about comfort, not preventing leakage; reusing a needle is unsafe and doesn’t stop leakage.

Preventing medication from leaking along the needle track is done with the Z-track technique. By pulling the skin and underlying tissue to one side before inserting the needle, you create a zigzag path that seals the needle tract when the needle is withdrawn. This containment keeps the solution inside the muscle, reducing leakage into subcutaneous tissue and preventing skin staining or irritation from the injection.

To use this method, once you’re about to inject, gently move the skin and tissue to the side, insert the needle, deliver the medication, and then release the tissue before withdrawing. The released skin covers the tract, effectively trapping the medication in the muscle.

The other actions don’t address leakage: massaging after injection can push medication along the track; keeping the patient still is about comfort, not preventing leakage; reusing a needle is unsafe and doesn’t stop leakage.