Feasibility of sonography for intra-articular injections in the knee through a medial patellar portal.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using real-time high-resolution sonography to guide an injection needle into the intra-articular space within the knee.


METHODS
Eighty-nine patients with radiographically confirmed knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3) without an effusion were included. After sonographically guided or blind injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) and contrast dye through a medial patellar portal (MPP) into the knee joint, a radiographic image was made to ascertain whether the injected material had reached the intra-articular space.


RESULTS
Sonographically guided injections of HA into the knee joint had a significantly greater accuracy rate (95.6%) than blind injections (77.3%; P = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-articular injections via an MPP using sonographic guidance may raise the accuracy rate in knee joint injections.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jeju National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, Korea.
Sang Hee
SH
Im
Sang Chul
SC
Lee
Yong Bum
YB
Park
Sung-Rae
SR
Cho
Jong Chan
JC
Kim
D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000379:methods*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*
D000700:Analgesics; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid