Ultrasound is Best for Guiding Certain Injections

Recent research supports the use of ultrasound technology for the most accurate placement of injected medicines into the joint space of areas such as knees, shoulders, and hips.

This data reinforces the practice of National Spine & Pain Centers physicians who routinely use ultrasound for better targeting of injections for joint conditions, as opposed to the more traditional “by feel” joint injection technique.

Data results were collected by investigators at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine who reviewed 13 studies. They concluded that ultrasound guidance for large joint injections produces the following results:

Improves the accuracy of the injections, improves clinical outcomes (pain relief) and, lowers health care costs.

In regard to injection accuracy, the UNC review concluded that conventional palpation-guided injections frequently result in inaccurate needle placement into tissue or structures adjacent to the joint causing various adverse conditions in patients.

Click here to listen to the podcast of NSPC’s Dr. Rae Davis where he discusses the effectiveness of Ultrasound Guided Injections and how pain treatments are administered.

Ultrasound is an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce relatively precise images of structures within the body. Corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections are a common in the management of inflammatory and degenerative joint conditions when first-line conservative therapies such as rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medication fail to provide adequate symptom relief.

If you’re experiencing joint pain and would like to learn more about ultrasound-guided injections, get started now by requesting an appointment with us. One of our board-certified doctors at National Spine & Pain Centers will accurately diagnose your joint pain and create a tailored treatment plan to reduce your pain.