title: Sonographically Guided Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injections: Technique and Validation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and validate a technique for sonographically guided posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, cadaveric laboratory investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Procedural skills laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight unembalmed, cadaveric, mid-thigh-knee specimens (4 left knees and 4 right knees) obtained from 4 male and 4 female donors aged 57 to 64 years (mean 60.8 years) with body mass indices of 27.7 to 36.5 kg/m(2) (mean 32 kg/m(2)).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-2-MHz curvilinear probe and a 22-gauge, 78-mm stainless steel needle was used to inject 2 mL of diluted blue latex into the PCL of each specimen using an in-plane, caudad-to-cephalad approach. At a minimum of 24 hours postinjection, each specimen was dissected to assess the presence and distribution of latex within the PCL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Presence and distribution of latex within the PCL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 8 injections accurately delivered latex throughout the PCL, including the tibial and femoral footprints. In 2 of 8 specimens (25%), a small amount of latex was noted to extend beyond the PCL and into the joint space. No specimens exhibited evidence of needle injury of latex infiltration with respect to the popliteal neurovascular bundle, menisci, hyaline cartilage, or anterior cruciate ligament.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonographically guided intraligamentous PCL injections are technically feasible and can be performed with a high degree of accuracy. Sonographically guided PCL injections should be considered for research and clinical purposes to deliver therapeutic agents into the PCL postinjury or postreconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Andrews Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center, Gulf Breeze, FL(∗).
authors.forename: Joshua G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hackel
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Institute, Bowling Green, KY(†).
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Andrews Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center, 1040 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561(‡). Electronic address: dustinloveland@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dustin M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Loveland
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Radiology, and Anatomy, Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN(§).
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000379:methods; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007840:Latex / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007840:Latex