CT guided diagnostic foot injections.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a CT technique for guiding diagnostic and therapeutic injections in the hind- and mid-foot.


METHODS
Over a period of 50 months, 28 individuals were referred for diagnostic and therapeutic hind- and mid-foot injections before possible arthrodesis. A CT technique was developed that allowed entry into the various joints using a vertical approach. Numbers of joints injected were as follows: posterior subtalar, 21; talonavicular, 4; calcaneonavicular, calcaneocuboid, navicular-cuneiform and 5th metatarsocuboid joints, 1 each.


RESULTS
All injections but one were technically successful. Significant relief of symptoms was noted by 16 participants, whereas for 9 there was no improvement and for 3 a partial response was achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
CT is a simple and safe alternative to fluoroscopy for guiding diagnostic and therapeutic foot injections, and may be the technique of choice in cases of disordered anatomy.
Saifuddin
A
A
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, Stanmore, Middlesex, UK. asaifuddin@aol.com
Abdus-Samee
M
M
Mann
C
C
Singh
D
D
Angel
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*