Spinal Injections 101: Ultrasound Guided Spinal Injections
Category: Injections | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
When it comes to injections, it’s imperative that the surgeon releases the fluid in the correct area of your body. If they are off by a couple of centimeters, the injection will not have the intended effect, and it could negatively affect other structures.
To ensure the surgeon is in the correct area, medical centers have long since relied on a fluoroscopy, which is essentially a real-time x-ray. With the assistance of a fluoroscopy, the surgeon can view bony structures to help navigate the needle to the correct location. Sometimes we use this technique when administering injections, but other times we rely on an ultrasound.
The Benefits Of Ultrasound For Injections
When you think of an ultrasound, you probably picture them being used to help expecting parents view their babies in the womb. An ultrasound is great for that purpose, but medical experts began to wonder if it could be utilized in other medical operations. An ultrasound is now actually preferred by a number of surgeons because unlike an x-ray, an ultrasound allows the doctor to view not only the bony structures, but also the soft tissues. This means a surgeon can use an ultrasound to view nerves, muscles, joints, bursa and blood vessels.
Being able to view these soft tissues has two clear benefits. For starters, it allows the surgeon to view the nerve or bursa in which the injection is to be inserted, ensuring accuracy of the anesthetic. Secondly, it also allows the surgeon to see structures that they want to avoid. The surgeon can use an ultrasound to safely guide the needle around blood vessels or bursas that could cause damage if punctured.
Types Of Ultrasound Injections
We perform a wide variety of ultrasound guided injections at our clinic. Some of the injections we perform using ultrasound include:
- Ultrasound Guided Joint Injections
- Ultrasound Guided Carpal Tunnel Injection/Release
- Ultrasound Guided Scar Tissue Hydro-Dissection
- Ultrasound Guided Plantar Fascia Release
- Ultrasound Guided Rotator Cuff Injection
Contact a MN Spine Doctor
So if you’re in need of an pain relieving injection and you come to our clinic, there’s a chance your surgeon will use an ultrasound device to ensure your injection is safely administered. For more information about any of these injections or about ultrasound guided injections, contact our office today.
Read more about different types of spinal injections by following the links below:
