Accuracy of non assisted glenohumeral joint injection in the officesetting

Purpose: The diagnostic and therapeutic success of shoulder joint injection depends on its accuracy.Two recent studies reported high success (93-96%) for non-imaging-assisted anterior injection in anes-thetized patients. This study examined the accuracy of anterior shoulder injection in awake patientsunder conditions similar to the office setting.Methods: The study group consisted of 166 consecutive patients with shoulder pain who underwentdiagnostic magnetic resonance arthrography at a tertiary medical center in 2011-2012. As part of theexamination, contrast material was injected into the glenohumeral joint via an anterior approach bya certified musculoskeletal radiologist without any image assistance. Success was defined as contrastmaterial limited to the intra-articular joint on the scan, without scatter to the periauricular tissue.Results: A successful injection was verified by magnetic resonance arthography in 163 patients (98.2%).Conclusions: Non-assisted anterior shoulder injection is highly accurate (98.2%) in the hands of an expe-rienced radiologist, even in awake patients.