The tendons: Interventional sonography

While blind or fluoroscopically guided infiltration works well for intra-articular injections, injections into the tendon sheath are much more difficult. Ultrasound guidance with high-frequency transducers now allows visualization and infiltration of tendon sheaths. The interventional phase should be preceded by a diagnostic scan. Patients should be questioned to identify possible contraindications to the procedure and informed of the potential risks. Strict asepsis must be maintained for both patient and operator. This review includes separate discussions of the tendons in different areas of the body that are most commonly treated with ultrasound-guided injections, with descriptions of the lesions that are treated and the approach used for each. Interventional sonography is currently the only technique that allows visualization of the tendon being infiltrated. It requires training and experience as well as good knowledge of the indications and equipment used for the procedures, and the anatomy of the areas being treated.