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Published on: November 17, 2023
Is subcutaneous local anesthesia in shoulder magnetic resonance arthrography necessary?
1Helsinki Medical Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Töölö Trauma Center, Topeliuksenkatu 5, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland. mika.koivikko@hus.fi
Background:
Magnetic resonance arthrography is a well-established diagnostic method in degenerative and traumatic disorders of the shoulder. Some radiologists prefer to apply a local anesthetic to the skin prior to performing the joint puncture. However, no information regarding the efficacy of local anesthetics exists.
Purpose:
To assess patient discomfort in arthrography injection.
Material And Methods:
A patient survey (n = 74) utilizing a visual analog scale (VAS) measured the intensity of pain in arthrography injection by those receiving local anesthetics (n = 36) versus those who did not (n = 38).
Results:
Mean VAS scores were 20.8 (median 10.5, SD 24.3) for those receiving local anesthetics versus 19.3 (median 13.0, SD 20.7) for those who did not (P = 0.83, Mann-Whitney U test).
Conclusion:
Routine use of local anesthesia of the skin in arthrography injection is unnecessary.
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