The role of interventional radiology in elective orthopaedic practice

Interventional radiology is a subspecialty of radiology that provides a range of minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. It continues to expand and evolve, and has had a marked impact on clinical care in many settings, in some cases averting the need for major surgery and hospital admission. While its role in the setting of trauma is relatively well established, with arterial embolisation a valuable option in the management of haemodynamically unstable patients, it is less prominent in the elective setting. This article provides an overview of emerging applications of interventional radiology in the elective treatment of orthopaedic conditions.