## Overview Intramuscular injections can cause local swelling, pain, abscess, or Clostridial myonecrosis. Signs include heat, swelling, reluctance to move the limb, and sometimes a draining tract. ## Causes Bacterial contamination, irritating drugs, or poor injection technique. ## Diagnosis History of recent injection, local signs, and ultrasound or aspiration if abscess is suspected. ## Treatment Anti-inflammatories, hot packing, and drainage plus antibiotics for abscesses. Clostridial infections are emergencies requiring aggressive surgical and medical therapy. ## Recovery and Prognosis Good for simple reactions. Clostridial myositis has a guarded prognosis. ## Prevention Proper site selection, sterile technique, and appropriate drug choice.
swelling and heat at injection site; reluctance to move the limb; stiff gait; possible abscess with draining tract
## Overview Intramuscular injections can cause local swelling, pain, abscess, or Clostridial myonecrosis. Signs include heat, swelling, reluctance to move the limb, and sometimes a draining tract. ## Causes Bacterial contamination, irritating drugs, or poor injection technique. ## Diagnosis History of recent injection, local signs, and ultrasound or aspiration if abscess is suspected. ## Treatment Anti-inflammatories, hot packing, and drainage plus antibiotics for abscesses. Clostridial infections are emergencies requiring aggressive surgical and medical therapy. ## Recovery and Prognosis Good for simple reactions. Clostridial myositis has a guarded prognosis. ## Prevention Proper site selection, sterile technique, and appropriate drug choice.
swelling and heat at injection site; reluctance to move the limb; stiff gait; possible abscess with draining tract