title: [Ultrasound-guided joint injections in patients with rheumatic diseases].
abstract: Joint and soft tissue injections are routinely performed in daily rheumatology practice to establish the diagnosis or as part of the treatment in patients suffering from rheumatic diseases. Consequently, joint injections have been included in the rheumatology further training curriculum. Despite numerous studies demonstrating a poor accuracy and outcome of joint injections guided only by clinical examination, most of the injection procedures are still performed in a "blind" fashion based on clinical judgment. Ultrasound has evolved as an established imaging method in rheumatology within the past decade and is considered the preferred imaging modality for joint interventions due to its availability and lack of radiation exposure. In this article the indications and important aspects of the practical management of ultrasound-guided injections performed in daily rheumatology practice are summarized.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Rheumatologie und klinische Immunologie, Asklepios Klinik, Kaiser-Karl V.-Allee 3, 93077, Bad Abbach, Deutschland. w.hartung@asklepios.com
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ehrenstein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Härle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fleck
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weigand
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000075202:Contraindications; D004867:Equipment Design; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids