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Joint injections

Shoulder

  • Shoulder is externally rotated to move biceps tendon out of the way
  • Target is superior medial quadrant of humeral head, between 1- and 2-o'clock positions for right shoulder and 3–5 mm in from edge of cortex.

rotator interval.png{ width="300" }rotator interval approach.png{ width="300" }

Hip

  • Hip is internally rotated
  • Easiest is lateral edge of bone but can also target lateral cortex and sliding along 2-3mm after making contact for a paracortical approach
  • Lateral aspect targeted to avoid neurovascular structures and iliopsoas tendon
  • Anterior and paracortical approaches respectively:

anterior hip injection approach.png{ width="300" }paracortical hip technique.png{ width="300" }

Needle sizes and lengths

Location Gauge Length (in)
Shoulder (rotator interval or posterior approach) 22 1.5 > 3.5
Shoulder (anterior approach) 22 3.5
Elbow 25 1.5
Wrist 25 1.5
Hip 22 3.5 > 6
Knee 22 1.5 >> 3.5
Ankle 25 1.5
* > indicates more commonly used than, >> indicates much more commonly used than

Arthrography

Medications and volumes

  • MR arthrogram:
    • 1:1 mixture of NS and omnipaque 300 with 1:200 gadolinium
    • For a 20 mL solution: 10 mL NS, 10 mL omnipaque 300, and 0.05 mL (6 drops) gadolinium
  • CT arthrogram:
    • 3:1 mixture of omnipaque 300 and NS
    • For a 20 mL solution: 15 mL omnipaque 300, 5 mL NS
Location 1%
Lidocaine
lodinated Contrast
Medium
0.5%
Ropivacaine
Normal Saline
Solution
Gadolinium Total Volume
Injected
MRI
arthrography
Shoulder 10 5 5 0.1 12
Elbow 10 5 5 0.1 2-4
Wrist 10 5 5 0.1 1-30
Hip 5 5 5 5 0.1 12
Knee 20 10 10 0.2 40
Ankle 10 5 5 0.1 2-4
CT arthrography
Shoulder 10 10 12
Elbow 5 5 2-4
Wrist 5 5 1-30

Therapeutic injections

Medications and volumes

Location 1% Lidocaine (Preservative-Free) 0.5% Ropivacaine Triamcinolone Acetonide (40 mg/mL) Total Volume
Injected
Shoulder 2 2 1 5.0
Elbow 2 2 1 2.5
Wrist 2 2 1 2.5
Hip 2 2 1 5.0
Knee 4 4 1 9.0
Ankle 2 2 1 2.5
  • Attending preferences:
    • Tivorsak - 1 lido/4 bupivicaine/1 triamcinolone (kenalog)
    • Matcuk - 1 lido/4 bupivicaine/1 triamcinolone
    • Giaconi - 2 lido/3 bupivicaine/1 triamcinolone