Guided Injection

Orthopedic surgeons often use injections for treatment of a variety of conditions. Commonly injected medications include cortisone shots and joint lubricants also known as visco supplementation. Ultrasound has also been used as an imaging guide for intra-articular or soft-tissue injections to help improve accuracy, thereby minimizing risk of injury to adjacent nerves or blood vessels.

Ultrasound guided injections allow the physician or physician assistant (PA) to pinpoint the exact placement of medication. This helps increase the effectiveness of treatment and allows for the use of a thinner, less painful needle. These procedures do not require anesthesia, and there is no radiation from the ultrasound machine. A surprising number of patients actually enjoy watching the needle hit its target on the LCD screen.

Ultrasound is the safe and painless use of sound waves to produce images of the internal structures of a joint, limb or soft tissue structures. It is a repeatable, noninvasive imaging modality that is capable of providing real-time dynamic tissue assessment. In addition, ultrasound can be used to quickly compare the affected and contralateral sides when necessary. The use of ultrasound to evaluate musculoskeletal structures was first reported in 1958. Since then, its use has grown exponentially, particularly in the office setting. Ultrasound enables physicians to reliably visualize soft-tissue structures including muscle bellies, tendons, ligaments, arteries, and nerves, as well as identify any pathologic changes within these structures.