Although ultrasound (echo) is commonly used to identify injuries or abnormalities; it is also used for injections in the knee, shoulder and hip.
The use of ultrasound (echo) improves the accuracy of injecting corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, or other therapies such as platelet-rich plasma or stem cells. Ultrasound (echo) guided injections allow the doctor to visualize the needle in real time as it enters the body and travels to the desired location. This ensures that the drug is injected exactly where it is needed.
Despite good intentions, even in the most experienced hands, blind injections (injections given without an echo) are not 100% accurate, and in some joints the accuracy is only 30%-40%. Under ultrasound (echo) guidance, the accuracy of almost any joint injection exceeds 90% and approaches 100% in most patients.
In addition, ultrasound (echo) guided injections have been shown to be less painful than blind injections.