Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
07:19
Fu's Subcutaneous Needling for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain
Published on: March 24, 2023
Hydrodissection and hydrodilatation for joint pain: a scoping review
Benjamin Leahy1, Harry McGrath1, Dominic Harmon1
1Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Frontiers in Pain Research (Lausanne, Switzerland)
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection (US-HD) offers promising pain relief and improved function for various joint conditions. This minimally invasive technique demonstrates a good safety profile, though further research is needed to standardize protocols.
Area of Science:
- Musculoskeletal Medicine
- Pain Management
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Joint-related pain significantly impacts quality of life.
- Current treatments for joint pain have limitations.
- Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection (US-HD) is an emerging intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the evidence on the effectiveness and safety of US-HD for joint pain.
- To synthesize findings from randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed across major databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar).
- Studies published within the last 15 years investigating US-HD for joint pain were included.
- Data on pain reduction, functional improvement, and complications were extracted and qualitatively synthesized.
Main Results:
- Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, providing evidence for US-HD's efficacy.
- US-HD demonstrated significant pain relief and functional gains in conditions like adhesive capsulitis, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, and knee osteoarthritis.
- Consistently low complication rates were reported across the included studies.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection is a safe and effective intervention for managing joint pain.
- Encouraging early evidence supports its use, but further high-quality trials are necessary.
- Standardization of techniques and outcome measures is recommended for future research.
