Intra Articular Joint Program

• Intra Articular Joint Programs
• Intra Articular Means

Intra Articular Joint Programs

An intra-articular joint injection is a common therapeutic procedure, which aims to reduce pain and inflammation in a joint from condition like. Joint inflammation is usually associated with a proliferation of white blood cells and reduction of blood flow into the joint. This results in a painful, swollen joint. Joint inflammation can be caused by a variety of conditions, such as osteoarthritis. (Journal of the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

37-46.)Intra-articular joint injections are most commonly performed in the knee, hip, and shoulder, but they can be done in the costochondral joints (between ribs and breastbone), (between vertebrae in the spine) and joints in the hands and feet. This procedure involves the injection of corticosteroids into the affected joint. This can provide quick and long-lasting pain relief with very little risk of damaging the tendons, ligaments or nerves.These joint injections are fairly safe and can provide long-term benefits. Normally, the pain relief lasts about 3-4 months. At that time, the procedure may be repeated if necessary.

Studies have indicated that 3-4 intra-articular joint injections per year are well tolerated. (Arthritis Rheum.

48: 370-377)Potential side effects from the steroid injection include menstrual irregularities, skin flushing, muscular fatigue, and gastrointestinal upset. Local side effects may include soreness at the site of injection, bruising, changes in skin pigmentation and infection. Infection is very rare and is reported in one out of every 10,000 injections. Patients are advised to refrain from excessive weight bearing activities for 24-48 hours after the injection.

Joint injections are an important part of multimodal treatment for painful musculoskeletal conditions. Ultrasound- and fluoroscopy-guided IA injections assist in improving the accuracy of needle placement. Ultrasound is particularly helpful for interventional musculoskeletal procedures, offering advantages for specific procedures due to its ability to visualize periarticular soft tissues and provide real-time needle tracking without using ionizing radiation. The improvement in the accuracy of needle placement with ultrasound guidance for some joints is associated with significant clinical outcome benefits when compared with palpation-guided techniques. Future comparative studies are needed to develop guidelines for selecting the most appropriate IA corticosteroid and viscosupplementation agents and selecting the best methods to deliver these agents. Particular attention must be paid to the efficacy and adverse effects associated with treatment of each particular joint and underlying musculoskeletal condition. Furthermore, optimal protocols for the timing of injection, postprocedure activity, and specific dosing regimens need to be defined.

Intra Articular Means

For some joint injections, larger-scale studies are needed to directly compare the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided IA techniques with traditional landmark-based and fluoroscopy-guided techniques. KEY POINTS.Musculoskeletal diseases, including symptomatic arthritis and soft tissue conditions, are associated with high levels of disability and significant economic costs.

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis.When joint injections are used, they should be incorporated into a multimodal treatment plan.Agents utilized for joint injections include corticosteroids, local anesthetics, and viscosupplements.Multiple corticosteroid and viscosupplementation formulations exist with differing pharmacologic properties.Viscosupplementation seems to have a more prolonged analgesic effect than intra-articular corticosteroids.It is important to understand the adverse effects and complications associated with each injectate class.