What are ultrasound-guided injections?
Ultrasound-guided injections are a type of treatment that relies on the simultaneous use of ultrasound scanning and injectable medicines to treat conditions in specific areas of the body.
Using an ultrasound scan allows our radiologists to see anatomy in real-time, enabling them to guide and deliver injectable treatments precisely and accurately.
At OneWelbeck, our consultants offer the following ultrasound-guided injections: corticosteroid, PRP and ACPMax, Arthrosamid and viscosupplementation.
Corticosteroid injections
What are corticosteroid injections and what are the benefits?
Corticosteroids are a group of medicines that work to reduce inflammation and the swelling and pain it can cause. They can be used to treat a range of conditions and problems, such as joint pain, arthritis, tendonitis or bursitis.
Some of the most common injectable steroids given are hydrocortisone, triamcinolone and methylprednisolone. In some cases, a corticosteroid injection can aid not only in treating inflammation, but also in diagnosing your condition if it’s unclear which particular area is causing your pain.
Corticosteroid injections are administered into joints or soft tissue structures, such as the ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, spine or wrist. The small joints in the hands or feet can also benefit from this treatment.
PRP and ACP Max injections
What is a PRP injection, and why might you need one?
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections are used to reduce pain and treat a range of conditions and injuries affecting the cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone. The treatment involves injecting platelets and plasma from your blood into an affected area to support and promote your body’s natural healing.
Your consultant may recommend a PRP injection if you have a musculoskeletal condition or injury, such as tennis elbow, ligament damage, or joint sprains. PRP can also be helpful in treating post-surgical wounds and hair loss, and can also be used as an anti-ageing (skin rejuvenation) treatment.
What is an ACP Max injection?
ACP Max injection is a new type of PRP therapy. It uses a higher concentration of platelets and bioactive proteins for accelerated healing and shorter recovery times from musculoskeletal injuries.
Arthrosamid injections
What is arthrosamid and what are the benefits?
Arthrosamid injections are an innovative treatment that can provide effective and sustained relief from knee pain and stiffness, as well as improve knee flexibility and restore movement in cases of arthritis.
Arthrosamid is based on advanced hydrogel technology, which, when injected into the knee, works to cushion and lubricate the joint. A single Arthrosamid injection can improve the pain and stiffness of knee osteoarthritis for up to 3 years, without the need for surgery.
Who are arthrosamid injections for?
Arthrosamid may be an appropriate treatment for you if you have knee osteoarthritis and are experiencing pain which is restricting your mobility and reducing your quality of life.
Viscosupplementation injections
What is viscosupplementation arthritis treatment?
Also known as hyaluronic acid injections, viscosupplementation injections are used to treat pain and stiffness and improve movement in osteoarthritic joints in patients who have not had positive results with treatment therapies and oral pain medications alone.
How does viscosupplementation work?
Hyaluronic acid is similar to a substance that naturally occurs in the joints. When injected into the joint, it acts as a shock absorber and lubricant, helping the bones move more smoothly over each other and reducing inflammation.
Ultrasound-guided injections at OneWelbeck
At OneWelbeck, all ultrasound-guided injections are administered by our specialist radiology consultants in our outpatient ultrasound clinic. Your consultant will begin the procedure by numbing the treatment area with an injected local anaesthetic before using an ultrasound scan to guide a fine needle into the area and inject the hyaluronic acid.
It’s a minimally invasive procedure, taking around 20 to 30 minutes to complete, so you will not need to stay in hospital overnight.
It may take a week or two for you to notice an improvement in your symptoms, but pain and stiffness should gradually reduce with sustained improvements for several months.
How to prepare for ultrasound-guided injections
Most injections need no or minimal preparation - your consultant will provide you with any information before your procedure. If you’re having an Arthrosamid injection, you’ll be given antibiotics to take in the days leading up to your appointment.
What happens during the procedure?
Your procedure will be performed by a consultant radiologist, a doctor with specialist training and experience in performing image-guided procedures. Before the procedure, your radiologist will explain the benefits and risks of having the injection and will answer any questions you may have.
To undergo the treatment, you will be positioned on the ultrasound couch, and your skin will be cleaned with a sterile solution before your consultant performs an ultrasound to identify the area requiring the injection. A local anaesthetic is then given to numb the area. Using the ultrasound probe, the needle is gently guided into the affected area, and the medication is injected. The needle is then removed, and a plaster or dressing is applied.
What happens after the treatment?
Immediately after an injection into your joint, you may feel that your pain has gone or is significantly reduced. This is due to the local anaesthetic, and the effect will last only for a few hours. The treatment itself usually starts to work after three to four days, but can take longer.
What do I need to do when I go home?
The radiologist will make any specific recommendations. You will generally be advised to go easy for the next few days and avoid any painful movements.
If you’re having other medical treatment or dental procedures within six weeks, you should tell the clinician treating you that you have received an injection.
Risks of ultrasound-guided injections
Infection (occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 procedures). If the area injected becomes red, hot and swollen, and/or you feel feverish, it is important to seek medical advice immediately.
Bleeding into a joint or soft tissue. This is usually only a concern for people taking warfarin or similar anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medicine.
Allergic reaction to the local anaesthetic. This is rare, but some patients can have an allergic reaction to the local anaesthetic or to the treatment itself. If this happens, your consultant will be able to treat both the reaction and any side effects.
Tendon rupture or tear. When the area around a tendon or ligament has been injected, there is an extremely low risk of tendon rupture or tear. In most cases where this occurs, it’s due to overuse of the joint after the injection.
