An ultrasound scan is a progressive imaging technique that uses sound waves with greater frequency to get pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound-guided hip joint injections are used to diagnose the primary cause and relieve hip pain. The injection may consist of a special mixture of an anaesthetic and a steroid that not only relieves pain impulses but also, reduces inflammation in the injected area. Ultrasound-guided hip injections are used for treating sports injuries. Other than hip joints, the area most commonly targeted for ultrasound-guided injections are the shoulder, elbow, or foot/ankle. It thus serves a diagnostic function and helps your surgeon to confirm or rule out whether the hip joint is the source of pain.

Hip joint injections mostly give some level of relief from pain due to joint diseases such as arthritis. Hip arthritis is one of the most common causes of hip or groin pain. Other causes of hip pain may include:

• Hip impingement
• Iliopsoas tendonitis
• Hip and groin pain
• Iliopsoas tendonitis
• Groin pain in runners
• Adductor tendonitis
• Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
• Stress fracture of the hip
• Hip dysplasia

Accurate diagnostic evaluations play a crucial role in scheming an effective treatment plan and surgery. Your physician may do a physical examination of the painful or affected area. Any recent accidents or falls you had will be recorded. If you are having an active infection and are taking antibiotics, the medication course has to be completed before the procedure. You must inform if you are or may be pregnant, or have allergies to medications.

The ultrasound-guided hip injection procedure

Ultrasound-guided hip joint injections are a safe, non-invasive approach to treating pain, inflammation, and impaired mobility. Your surgeon will place the ultrasound probe over your hip to identify the hip joint. A numbing spray will be spurted to minimize the sensation of the needle entering the skin. Then your surgeon will then gently insert a small calibre needle that will enter the joint. You may feel the discomfort for a few seconds due to the piercing. A combination of anaesthetic and the anti-inflammatory agent is then slowly injected into the joint. The whole procedure usually takes about 10 minutes.

After the injection, you will be rested for 20 to 30 minutes and are then asked to move the joint. You may find relief or a decrease in pain only when the injected joint is the source of the pain. Physical therapy may also be recommended. Most patients are instructed to rest the affected joint for 24 to 48 hours after injection. The medication may take a few days to begin working and getting adequate rest can help patients achieve the maximum benefit from the procedure.

Although the Ultrasound-Guided Hip Injections are non-invasive treatment, some of the possible risks include:

• Swelling in the joint after the injection
• Pain in the joint after the injection
• Infection
• Depigmentation of skin
• Local thinning of the skin
• Rupture of a tendon
• No relief from pain

Physicians and surgeons often prefer guided injections, as they offer several significant benefits. Some of the benefits of Ultrasound-Guided Hip Injection is its

• Improved accuracy: With ultrasound guidance, pain and anti-inflammatory medication can be injected into the exact spot for symptomatic relief for longer durations of time.
• Reduced procedural pain: Ultrasound-guided injections are typically considered quicker and less painful than conventional injections.
• Improved safety: Ultrasound imaging is known to be safe for the past two or more decades. As your surgeon can see exactly where the needle is going, the risk of complications from improper placement is greatly decreased.