Traditionally, injections have been performed landmark guided which means the doctor relies on feeling bony landmarks to know where to place the needle. Today, ultrasound technology has shifted the standard of care toward visualizing the tissue and needle in real time using the ultrasound instead of just feeling the bones. For this reason, we perform injections using the ultrasound machine.
Ultrasound guidance uses high-frequency sound waves to create a real-time, live-motion image of your internal anatomy. Instead of guessing where the needle should go based on the surface of your skin, we can see the needle tip as it moves through the tissue and enters the target area.
The move away from landmark guidance is driven by clinical data showing that ultrasound significantly improves patient outcomes in several ways.
Superior Accuracy: Clinical studies show that landmark guided injections can miss the target joint up to 30 percent of the time. Ultrasound ensures the medication is delivered exactly into the joint space or around the specific tendon.
Increased Safety: Real-time imaging allows the doctor to see and avoid critical structures such as nerves, blood vessels, and organs. This significantly reduces the risk of accidental puncture or injury to healthy tissue.
Reduced Pain During the Procedure: Because the physician can see the most direct path to the target, they can avoid sensitive areas and minimize the need to "re-position" or "poke" the needle multiple times to find the right spot.