Brief report
Office-Based Ultrasound-Guided Intra-Articular Hip Injection: Technique for Physiatric Practice

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Abstract

Smith J, Hurdle M-FB. Office-based ultrasound-guided intra-articular hip injection: technique for physiatric practice.

Intra-articular hip injections are commonly used in the evaluation and treatment of hip disorders. Although these injections are typically performed with fluoroscopic guidance, ultrasound provides a viable alternative for ensuring accurate intra-articular needle placement. This report describes the technique for performing ultrasound-guided intra-articular hip injections in the context of an office-based physiatric practice. Ultrasound offers several advantages over fluoroscopy, including accessibility, compact size, lack of ionizing radiation exposure, and visualization of neurovascular and other soft-tissue structures. With appropriate training and experience, interested physiatrists can consider implementing ultrasound-guided injections into their clinical practices.

Section snippets

Methods

At the time of writing, we used a Merlin 1101 compact ultrasound machinea with a 6- to 12-MHz, 40-mm–long linear array transducer and standard B-mode imaging. Depending on the scanning frequency, this machine provides good visualization to a depth of 9cm below the skin. Hip injections are typically performed with the transducer frequency set at 9 or 12MHz. The 12-MHz setting provides better spatial resolution than the 9-MHz setting but with less penetration. Our procedure is to attempt

Discussion

This report shows that it is feasible for the physiatrist to perform ultrasound-guided intra-articular hip injections in an office setting with compact, portable, affordable equipment. Most important, ultrasound allows the physiatrist to identify and avoid important neurovascular structures and ensure accurate placement of the needle intra-articularly. Accurate needle placement is essential to correctly interpret a diagnostic injection or the efficacy of a therapeutic injection.

The primary

Conclusions

There are multiple indications for intra-articular hip injections in physiatric practice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Given the increasing availability, portability, and affordability of newer ultrasound machines, physiatrists can obtain the necessary skills and successfully integrate ultrasound-guided hip injections into their clinical practices. At the time of this report, formal certification programs for ultrasound-guided interventions do not exist for physiatrists. Interested physiatrists are

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