The Isometric Quadriceps Contraction Method for Intra-Articular Knee Injection

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Musculoskeletal System
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Intra-articular injections are crucial for knee arthritis treatment (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis).
• Inaccurate needle placement, particularly in knees with low effusion, is a significant challenge.
• Previous studies highlight varying success rates for different injection approaches without ultrasound guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel intra-articular injection technique.
• To enhance the accuracy of injections into the suprapatellar pouch, especially in low-effusion knees.
• To assess the efficacy of the isometric quadriceps contraction (IQC) method.

Main Methods:

• Developed the isometric quadriceps contraction (IQC) method for suprapatellar pouch injections.
• Patient positioning, identification of puncture site, and needle insertion during isometric quadriceps contraction.
• Ultrasound evaluation of suprapatellar pouch expansion and comparison of IQC accuracy against non-activated quadriceps method.

Main Results:

• The IQC method demonstrated a high success rate of 93.3% for intra-articular injections.
• Ultrasound confirmed suprapatellar pouch expansion during isometric quadriceps contraction.
• The IQC method showed improved accuracy compared to injections with a non-activated quadriceps.

Conclusions:

• The isometric quadriceps contraction (IQC) method effectively expands the suprapatellar pouch.
• This technique significantly improves the probability of successful intra-articular knee injections, even with minimal effusion.
• The IQC method offers a therapeutically effective approach for knee joint injections.