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 consultants to see needles as they are inserted into the body 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 injections, arthrosamid injections and viscosupplementation injections.
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, tendinitis 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 is unclear which particular area is causing your pain.
Corticosteroid injections are administered into joints or soft tissue structures, like the ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, spine or wrist. The small joints in the hands or feet can also benefit from this treatment.
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.
There are some cases where an Arthrosamid injection may not be appropriate. Your orthopaedic consultant will take you through all of your options and will recommend the best treatment based on your individual factors.
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 to move more smoothly over each other, reducing inflammation.
At OneWelbeck, all ultrasound-guided injections are administered by our specialist orthopaedic consultants in our outpatients' 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.
Are there any risks associated with viscosupplementation injections?
Like all procedures, viscosupplementation injections do carry some risks. However, these are reduced when the procedure is carried out under ultrasound guidance by one of our experienced specialists.
The risks associated with viscosupplementation injections include:
Pain following the injection
Swelling around the injection site
Joint infection
Facial flushing in the first few days after treatment
Allergic reaction
Suppressed immunity (increased risk of catching contagious infections)
How to prepare for ultrasound-guided injections
Is there anything I need to do before my appointment?
No specific preparation is required for this procedure. However, you will not be allowed to drive or cycle for 24 hours after the procedure, so you may need to arrange for someone to take you home.
What happens during the procedure?
Your procedure will be performed by a consultant who has had specialist training and is experienced in performing image-guided procedures. Before the procedure, your consultant 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. Using the ultrasound probe, the needle is gently guided into the affected area and the medication is injected. The needle is removed and a plaster or dressing is applied.
Will I feel any pain?
The local anaesthetic and the injection will involve a small needle, which will feel similar to having a blood test. The injection may cause stinging briefly before the area becomes numb, and you may feel some pressure or tightness as the injection is administered into the joint.
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 anticoagulation (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 any reactions and 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 does occur, it is due to overuse of the joint after the injection.
What are the alternatives?
Alternatives to these types of injections include lifestyle changes, physiotherapy and oral pain-relieving medication. Surgery may also be an alternative option, which would be discussed with your specialist.
What to do after your private injection appointment
What happens after the procedure?
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 after I go home?
You are advised not to drive or cycle after your injection for 24 hours.
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.
Will I have a follow-up appointment?
You may be asked to attend a follow-up appointment or a physiotherapist six to eight weeks after your injection to check your progress.
