Sonographically guided distal radioulnar joint injection: technique and validation in a cadaveric model

Existing Evidence on Ultrasound-Guided Injections in Sports Medicine

Office-based ultrasonography has become increasingly available in many settings, and its use to guide joint and soft tissue injections has increased. Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the use of ultrasound-guided injections over traditional landmark-guided injections, with a rapid growth in the literature over the past few years. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to demonstrate increased accuracy of ultrasound-guided injections regardless of anatomic location. In the upper extremity, ultrasound-guided injections have been shown to provide superior benefit to landmark-guided injections at the glenohumeral joint, the subacromial space, the biceps tendon sheath, and the joints of the hand and wrist. Ultrasound-guided injections of the acromioclavicular and the elbow joints have not been shown to be more efficacious. In the lower extremity, ultrasound-guided injections at the knee, ankle, and foot have superior efficacy to landmark-guided injections. Conclusive evidence is not available regarding improved efficacy of ultrasound-guided injections of the hip, although landmark-guided injection is performed less commonly at the hip joint. Ultrasound-guided injections are overall more accurate than landmark-guided injections. While current studies indicate that ultrasound guidance improves efficacy and cost-effectiveness of many injections, these studies are limited and more research is needed.

Musculoskeletal interventional procedures: With or without imaging guidance?

Aspiration and injection of joints and soft tissues is an indispensable skill used in everyday practice by the clinical rheumatologist. Most rheumatologists recognise that performing these procedures using anatomical landmarks is not always successful, particularly in the case of small or infrequently injected joints, bursae or tendon sheaths. Musculoskeletal ultrasound confirms the local pathological-anatomical diagnosis and is the most applicable and feasible imaging method that can be applied in clinical practice in guiding musculoskeletal interventional procedures. From 1993, there has been substantial examination of the accuracy of landmark- and imaging-guided procedures. We have searched the literature and ascertained whether imaging techniques improve the accuracy of musculoskeletal procedures and whether the accuracy of needle placement can be translated into improved clinical outcome (efficacy).

Effectiveness of Ultrasound Guidance on Intraarticular and Periarticular Joint Injections: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of ultrasound-guided intraarticular and periarticular joint injections as compared with landmark-guided injections technique.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in Medline, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, reference lists of articles, and other sources. Only randomized controlled trials were included. Two reviewers independently selected and assessed each study for quality and extracted data.

RESULTS

Twelve randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that ultrasound-guided intraarticular and periarticular joint injections were more accurate than the landmark-guided injections (odds ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.60). Ultrasound-guided joint injections significantly decreased the visual analog scale scores at both 2 wks (mean difference, -9.57; 95% confidence interval, -13.14 to -5.99) (P < 0.00001) and 6 wks (mean difference, -14.21; 95% confidence interval, -18.20 to -10.21) (P < 0.00001) after injection. There was no statistically significant difference in visual analog scale score at 12 wks between ultrasound-guided and landmark-guided intraarticular and periarticular joint injections (mean difference, -4.42; 95% confidence interval, -11.71 to 2.87) (P = 0.23).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraarticular and periarticular injections using ultrasound guidance significantly improves the accuracy of joint injections, and there is a significant decrease in visual analog scale scores for up to 6 wks after injection. The effect of ultrasound guidance on the long-term outcome of joint injections is inconclusive. The improved accuracy of injections was associated with pain relief. The authors recommend routine ultrasound guidance for intraarticular and periarticular injections.

American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) position statement: interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound in sports medicine

The use of diagnostic and interventional ultrasound has significantly increased over the past decade. A majority of the increased utilization is by nonradiologists. In sports medicine, ultrasound is often used to guide interventions such as aspirations, diagnostic or therapeutic injections, tenotomies, releases, and hydrodissections. This American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) position statement critically reviews the literature and evaluates the accuracy, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-guided injections in major, intermediate, and small joints, and soft tissues, all of which are commonly performed in sports medicine. New ultrasound-guided procedures and future trends are also briefly discussed. Based upon the evidence, the official AMSSM position relevant to each subject is made.

Evolving Role of Ultrasound in Therapeutic Injections of the Upper Extremity

Ultrasound machines are creating more refined pictures and becoming more user-friendly and readily accessible. As a result, ultrasound is being increasingly used for therapeutic purposes. One example involves the use of ultrasound guidance in musculoskeletal interventional procedures, such as joint injections, tendon sheath injections, and peripheral nerve blocks. Technical considerations and therapeutic results have been described for multiple locations about the upper extremities, with varying levels of success. The implementation of ultrasound-guided injections in the orthopedist's clinic has therapeutic, financial, and provider role implications. Given these potential benefits, orthopedic providers, both in practice and residency, would benefit from increased exposure and education in ultrasound use. Ultrasound provides the benefit of real-time, dynamic imaging without the radiation exposure of fluoroscopy, and ultrasound-guided injections can be performed in the office, as opposed to the operating room, which is frequently required when using fluoroscopy. A basic knowledge of the principles and terms used in ultrasound is required. With these simple principles, a practitioner can review techniques for specific areas of the musculoskeletal system and begin using ultrasound to guide injections. Many locations for diagnostic and/or therapeutic injections in the upper extremities have improved accuracy and benefit with the use of ultrasound vs blind techniques, although a few have not been shown to have a significant difference in the literature. The educational and professional implications can be significant, but these potential benefits need to be carefully weighed against costs by each orthopedic practice.

American Medical Society for Sports Medicine position statement: interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound in sports medicine

The use of diagnostic and interventional ultrasound has significantly increased over the past decade. A majority of the increased utilization is by nonradiologists. In sports medicine, ultrasound is often used to guide interventions such as aspirations, diagnostic or therapeutic injections, tenotomies, releases, and hydrodissections. This American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) position statement critically reviews the literature and evaluates the accuracy, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-guided injections in major, intermediate, and small joints, and soft tissues, all of which are commonly performed in sports medicine. New ultrasound-guided procedures and future trends are also briefly discussed. Based on the evidence, the official AMSSM position relevant to each subject is made.

American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) position statement: interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound in sports medicine

BACKGROUND

The use of diagnostic and interventional ultrasound has significantly increased over the past decade. A majority of the increased utilisation is by non-radiologists. In sports medicine, ultrasound is often used to guide interventions such as aspirations, diagnostic or therapeutic injections, tenotomies, releases and hydrodissections.

OBJECTIVE

Critically review the literature related to the accuracy, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-guided injections (USGIs) in major, intermediate and small joints; and soft tissues.

DESIGN

Systematic review of the literature.

RESULTS

USGIs are more accurate than landmark-guided injections (LMGIs; strength of recommendation taxonomy (SORT) Evidence Rating=A). USGIs are more efficacious than LMGIs (SORT Evidence Rating=B). USGIs are more cost-effective than LMGIs (SORT Evidence Rating=B). Ultrasound guidance is required to perform many new procedures (SORT Evidence Rating=C).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this position statement indicate there is strong evidence that USGIs are more accurate than LMGI, moderate evidence that they are more efficacious and preliminary evidence that they are more cost-effective. Furthermore, ultrasound-guided (USG) is required to perform many new, advanced procedures and will likely enable the development of innovative USG surgical techniques in the future.

The role of imaging in diagnosing diseases of the distal radioulnar joint, triangular fibrocartilage complex, and distal ulna

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to review the anatomy, biomechanics, and multimodality imaging findings of common and uncommon distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ), triangular fibrocartilage complex, and distal ulna abnormalities.

CONCLUSION

The DRUJ is a common site for acute and chronic injuries and is frequently imaged to evaluate chronic wrist pain, forearm dysfunction, and traumatic forearm injury. Given the complex anatomy of the wrist, the radiologist plays a vital role in the diagnosis of wrist pain and dysfunction.

Palpation versus ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections and short-term effect in the distal radioulnar joint disorder: a randomized, prospective single-blinded study

The aim of this study was to conduct a randomized, prospective single-blinded clinical study on the mid-term benefits and accuracy rate of the ultrasound (US)-guided versus palpation-guided intra-articular (IA) injections for the treatment of distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) disorder. Subjects with DRUJ disorder (n = 60) were randomly assigned to undergo US-guided or palpation-guided IA injection. Primary outcomes were measured with Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) and secondary outcomes included Verbal Numeric Pain Scale (VNS), Modified Mayo Wrist Score (MMWS), range of motion (ROM), and accuracy rate between two groups; 1.25 mL of mixed material (0.5 ml Omnipaque + 1 % lidocaine 0.25 ml + triamcinolone 20 mg 0.5 ml) was injected into the intra-articular space of the DRUJ. Treatment effects were assessed by using VNS, DASH, MMWS, and passive ROM of the DRUJ (supination, pronation from neutral) before the injections and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the injections. After the US-guided and palpation-guided IA injection into DRUJ, a radiographic image was taken to determine whether the injected material had reached the IA space or infiltrated into the soft tissue. US-guided IA injections showed significantly higher accuracy (100 %) than palpation-guided IA injections (75.8 %) in DRUJ. VNS, DASH, MMWS, and ROM were improved at 1, 3, and 6 months in both groups. There was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between the group receiving US-guided injections and the group receiving palpation-guided injections. US-guided IA injection showed significantly higher accuracy than palpation-guided IA injection in the DRUJ, and corticosteroid IA injections were effective in improving of the pain of patients with DRUJ disorder during 6 months of follow-up.

Interventional musculoskeletal US: an update on materials and methods

Pain is one of the most common causes of reduced productivity. The annual cost of health-related reductions in productivity has been estimated at approximately 225 billion dollars in the United States alone. Ultrasound-guided locoregional infiltration procedures have frequently been shown to offer economical, effective, lasting relief of pain. In-depth familiarity with the equipment (probes and needles) and techniques used to perform these procedures are fundamental for safe, effective treatment. In fact, depending on the characteristics of the patient and the clinical problem, the approach and technique may have to be modified to simplify the procedure and ensure better results. Up-to-date knowledge of the drugs used for these infiltrations (indications, how they are used) is equally important. Our aim is to provide an update on the techniques and materials used in interventional musculoskeletal ultrasonography based on a review of the most recent literature as well as on our personal experience.