Ultrasound-Guided Joint Injections

The science bit

What is an Ultrasound-Guided Injection?

We are often asked, “What is an ultrasound-guided injection?” Let’s explain what it is and why it’s important.

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. These waves can penetrate the skin without causing harm, allowing us to see tissues and structures with great accuracy. Using ultrasound to guide injections ensures precise placement and avoids the use of radiation or other harmful side effects. This technique is essential for delivering corticosteroid injections, steroid injections, and other joint injections accurately and safely.

Why Use Ultrasound-Guided Injections?

In the UK, about a million steroid injections are given each year. Steroid injections have been used for over fifty years because they effectively reduce inflammation and pain. Taking steroids orally for long periods can cause side effects, so injecting them directly into the affected area minimizes the overall dose needed and reduces exposure. This approach is beneficial for joint pain relief injections, corticosteroid injection therapy, and other musculoskeletal injections.

Patient Benefits

Ultrasound-guided injections have many benefits:

• Reduced Injury Risk: Precision reduces the chance of injury during the injection procedure.
• Fewer Side Effects: Lower doses mean fewer side effects, making treatments like corticosteroid injections safer.
• Increased Comfort: Patients find the procedure more comfortable, especially for sensitive areas like knee joint injections or shoulder joint injections.
• Higher Satisfaction: Better outcomes lead to happier patients who require pain management injections.
• Accurate Delivery: Ensures the medication reaches exactly where it’s needed, crucial for treatments like back pain steroid injections and chronic pain injections.

More patients are choosing ultrasound-guided injections because they are safer, more accurate, and lead to better outcomes. This method is increasingly popular for procedures like hip joint injections, elbow joint injections, and guided steroid injections.

Our Approach at FAB Clinic

Before we administer any injection, we perform an initial ultrasound scan of the area. This helps us confirm the diagnosis and ensure there are no structures, like nerves or vessels, that could be harmed. This allows us to find a safe and comfortable path for the injection, whether it’s for a foot joint injection or an ankle joint injection.

Accuracy Matters

Ultrasound allows us to visualize the needle from the moment it enters the skin until it reaches the target tissue. This ensures the medication is delivered precisely where needed. We also use ultrasound for other types of injections, like hyaluronic acid, which must be delivered accurately into joints or tendons to be effective. This precision is essential for conditions treated with musculoskeletal injections and other pain relief steroid injections.

Expertise at FAB Clinic

At FAB Clinic, our clinicians are dual qualified as musculoskeletal sonographers and independent prescribers. This means they can accurately diagnose conditions and rule out any potential issues before performing injections. They also ensure that there are no contraindications or medication interactions, making treatments like corticosteroid injections for joint pain and other injection therapies safe and effective.

Book Your Appointment

To book an injection, please contact us at info@fab-clinic.co.uk or call 0203 904 2888. Our team is here to help you achieve the best possible outcomes with the highest level of care, whether you need knee joint injections, hip joint injections, or any other form of injection therapy for joints.

What does evidence say?

Here are seven scientific and clinical resources that support the effectiveness of corticosteroid injections for various conditions:

1. Efficacy of Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis: This systematic review found that intra-articular corticosteroid injections significantly reduce pain and improve function in patients with knee osteoarthritis, particularly in the short term (up to 6 months)​ (BioMed Central)​.
2. Ultrasound-Guided Injections for Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: A systematic review demonstrated that ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections provide effective pain relief and functional improvement in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis, with better outcomes compared to non-guided injections​ (SpringerLink)​.
3. Corticosteroid Injections for Frozen Shoulder: A meta-analysis of 65 studies concluded that intra-articular corticosteroid injections offer significant short-term benefits for treating frozen shoulder, with effects lasting up to 6 months​ (BioMed Central)​.
4. Corticosteroid Injections for de Quervain Tenosynovitis: According to a Cochrane review, corticosteroid injections are more effective than splinting and provide better pain relief and functional improvement in patients with de Quervain tenosynovitis​ (AAFP)​.
5. Corticosteroid Injections for Trigger Finger: Studies have shown that corticosteroid injections result in significant pain relief and reduced triggering in patients with trigger finger, with effects lasting up to a year​ (AAFP)​.
6. Corticosteroid Injections for Greater Trochanteric Bursitis: Research indicates that corticosteroid injections provide greater pain relief and improved function in patients with greater trochanteric bursitis compared to usual care with analgesics and physical therapy​ (AAFP)​.
7. Corticosteroid Injections for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hand Osteoarthritis: A Cochrane review supports the use of corticosteroid injections over other treatments for improving symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and hand osteoarthritis, although it recommends referring patients to specialists for such interventions​ (AAFP)​.

These studies highlight the effectiveness of corticosteroid injections in managing various musculoskeletal conditions, providing pain relief, and improving patient outcomes.