Knee Ultrasound Guided Injections

Knee ultrasound imaging is able to diagnose acute injuries as well as longer term knee pain conditions making it the perfect choice when used in conjunction with an experienced overall clinical assessment...

Knee Diagnostic Ultrasound Scan

The Anatomy of a Knee Ultrasound Scan

Knee musculoskeletal pain conditions require an experienced physical examination procedure as well as the appropriate form of knee pain diagnostic imaging. Depending on the nature of the knee condition, x-rays, MRI scans or an ultrasound scan may be the preferred imaging modality of choice.

In acute knee injuries, a knee ultrasound scan may be the most appropriate tool to evaluate any inflammation or tears to the collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL). Ultrasound imaging is also the gold standard when examining any defects to the patella tendon and quadriceps tendon of the knee.

In cases of chronic long-term knee pain, an ultrasound scan may also be the most valuable form of imaging. Calcifications to the knee tendons as swelling to the to fluid filled cushions known as the knee bursa can be confirmed accurately with ultrasound being the most sensitive form of diagnostic scan. 

A knee ultrasound scan can also demonstrate specific bony regularities known as osteophytes in cases of osteoarthritis of the knee. In these cases, it may allow for more targeted injections at the knee pain source.

Types of Knee Ultrasound Guided Injections

Knee Joint Ultrasound Guided Injections

A substantial number of knee injections exist due to the complex anatomy of the knee and the significant number of different  conditions that can give problems in this area. An intra-articular (within the knee joint itself) injection is a common injection aimed at alleviating pain from knee osteoarthritis and sometimes knee meniscus tears.

The most common needle entry point is on the inside of the knee (medial aspect of the knee). The ultrasound transducer is placed across the knee cap (patella) and the inside of femoral condyle (leg bone) which gives clear visibility to the knee joint capsule. The needle can then be clearly visualized passing through the joint capsule into the medial knee cavity between the patella and the medial femoral condyle. 

Knee joint Aspiration & Ultrasound Guided Injection

Another way of entering the knee joint cavity for an ultrasound guided intra-articular knee injection (which is often favoured in a very swollen knee as it enables easy aspiration of excess fluid before injection) is termed a suprapatellar recess knee injection. The knee joint capsule extends to the upper outer part of the knee cap area and and remains very near to the skin (superficial) in this part of the knee which is another advantage to this technique. 

Knee Tendon & Bursal Ultrasound Guided Injections 

Other extra-articular (outside the joint capsule) knee injections can be a useful adjunct in the treatment of a range of knee conditions which persist in spite of good quality rehabilitation or which have substantial inflammation to the tissues. Depending on the knee joint condition we are treating further types of knee aspirations and injections can include: