Sacroiliac joint injections performed with sonographic guidance.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of sonographic guidance for therapeutic intra-articular sacroiliac joint injections in patients with sacroiliitis.


METHODS
Thirty-four consecutive patients with sacroiliitis were enrolled in this study. The synovial portions of 60 sacroiliac joints received injections under sonographic guidance. For treatment, a mixture of a corticosteroid and a local anesthetic was injected intra-articularly. Fluoroscopic spot images were obtained to assess the accuracy of the sonographically guided technique.


RESULTS
Of the 60 sonographically guided injections, 46 (76.7%) were successful (i.e., intra-articular), and 14 (23.3%) were missed. The successful intra-articular injection rate was 60% in the first 30 injections, and it gradually improved, reaching 93.5% in the last 30 injections. The mean procedure time was 9 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our initial experience suggests that sonographically guided therapeutic injections to sacroiliac joints could be valuable alternatives to other guidance modalities in patients with sacroiliitis. In the hands of experienced radiologists, this technique is safe, rapid, and reproducible.
Pekkafahli
Mehmet Zekai
MZ
Department of Radiology, Gülhane Military Medicine Academy, Haydarpaşa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. zekai_p@yahoo.com
Kiralp
Mehmet Zeki
MZ
Başekim
Cihat Cinar
CC
Silit
Emir
E
Mutlu
Hakan
H
Oztürk
Ersin
E
Kizilkaya
Eşref
E
Dursun
Hasan
H
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones