title: Feasibility of Ultrasound Guided Atlanto-occipital Joint Injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound guided atlanto-occipital joint injection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six atlanto-occipital joints of three cadavers were examined. Cadavers were placed in prone position with their head slightly rotated towards the contra-lateral side. The atlanto-occipital joint was initially identified with a longitudinal ultrasound scan at the midline between occipital protuberance and mastoid process. Contrast media 0.5cc was injected into the atlanto-occipital joint using an in-plane needle approach under ultrasound guide. The location of the needle tip and spreading pattern of the contrast was confirmed by fluoroscopic evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After ultrasound guided atlanto-occipital joint injection, spreading of the contrast media into the joint was seen in all the injected joints in the anterior-posterior fluoroscopic view.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ultrasound guided atlanto-occipital injection is feasible. The ultrasound guided injection by Doppler examination can provide a safer approach to the atlanto-occipital joint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul 150-713, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: U-Young
authors.initials: UY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sei Un
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Won Ihl
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Rhee