NHS Consultant Radiologist
Ultrasound Guided Injection
Ultrasound Scan
Areas/ Organs Covered
What's included?
- Gold Standard method for steroid injection pain relief
- Ultrasound scan and assessment
- Ultrasound guided injection
- Complete one stop service
- NHS Consultant Radiologist led
- Private Health Insurance Recognised Centre
Quicklinks
What is the objective of an Ultrasound Guided Injection?
The objective of an ultrasound guided injection is to inject a Corticosteroid into a joint or area of the body with the aid of ultrasound as a way to see and visualise the joint/ body area as well as the needle to allow it to reach the target area as precisely as possible.
Corticosteroid injections are used to treat a range of musculoskeletal pain conditions ranging from osteoarthritis, inflammatory diseases and a wide range of commonly occurring conditions such as tendinopathic disorders and nerve impingement.
These injections can be administered without using ultrasound (informally referred to as blind procedures) using the skill and experience of a medical professional however by far the gold standard method is to do this procedure with the aid of ultrasound as the target area can be much more precisely reached and injected.
What areas are covered by an Ultrasound Guided Injection?
There are a number of different areas and conditions that an Ultrasound guided injection can help treat (see possible reasons for a USGI below), in general the areas listed below and highlighted in the diagram below are covered:
- Shoulder
- Elbow
- Hand
- Wrist
- Fingers/ Thumb
- Hip
- Knee
- Foot
Note: The image is intended to be a guide only, for information regarding injections on specific areas/ joints please click the button below for our clinical team ro review
Possible reasons for an Ultrasound Guided Injection?
Ultrasound guided injections can be performed for a wide range of reasons some of which include:
- Frozen shoulder
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Osteoarthritis of the hip/ knee
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Trigger Finger
- Shoulder impingement
- Shoulder bursitis
- Bakers Cyst Aspiration
What is the benefit of an Ultrasound Guided Injection?
As mentioned corticosteroid injections (CSI) are used to treat a range of musculoskeletal pain conditions to help relieve pain, inflammation and that ultrasound guided injections are the gold standard method of performing these injections.
When comparing ultrasound guided injections to blind injections there is evidence to show that ultrasound guided injections can give better results for pain relief, longevity and functionally as compared to blind injections. Furthermore from a safety perspective there is a reduced risk in injury by the procedure as the needle movement and target area are being visualised by ultrasound.
Why choose us?
We pride ourselves on providing the best quality service we can which is why we are trusted by GP’s, doctors, physiotherapists, midwives and many other healthcare professionals.
Our mission of better quality healthcare for everyone sets us apart from the vast majority of other clinics and is the main reason why we are amongst the few diagnostic clinics to not only be approved by but also provide services to the NHS and thus the general public. This also means that unlike many other clinics we have additional strict quality control measures which we must adhere to meaning you are in safe hands with us and our team.
Who will I see?
You will be seen by a healthcare professional who specialises in clinical medical ultrasound. Unlike other diagnostic tests which produce results for analysis, ultrasound imaging is “real- time” therefore the quality of the scan being performed is the basis of the information you take away and heavily depends upon the expertise, experience and skill of the healthcare professional scanning you. This is an important point which is often overlooked by many people when deciding where to go, therefore you can be reassured that at Ultrasound Scan Clinic at St Mary’s Medical Centre you will always be seen by an expert who has vast expertise and experience in the field of medical ultrasound.
What does an Ultrasound Guided Injection involve?
We will perform an ultrasound scan of the area in question to help assess your problem and proceed with an ultrasound guided injection if its agreed that this is the best and most appropriate treatment. During the scan you will be asked to uncover that area (e.g. shoulder, knee, etc.) and a small amount of jelly will be placed over your skin. An ultrasound camera will then be placed on top and moved around the area. This will result in a picture appearing on the ultrasound monitor and patient TV which will be translated by a medical ultrasound practitioner.
Typically only one injections is required however depending on your specific clinical history and presentation this may require two – three, this will be discussed with you at your appointment with a clinician.
At the end of the examination a brief explanation of the results may be offered. A formal ultrasound scan report with any recommendations will be sent to you which you can take to your regular healthcare professional.
Does it hurt?
An ultrasound scan is a harmless and painless procedure where jelly and an ultrasound probe are placed on the skin, however as there is an injection into the skin involved there may be some discomfort as the needle is moving to the target area and steroid is being injected into the target area. However our trained clinicians do their best to minimise any discomfort and pain as best as possible.
How much does it cost?
The cost of the ultrasound scan and ultrasound guided injection is from £350 per procedure.
If the decision is made at the appointment not to proceed with injection, you will be only charged the cost of the diagnostic ultrasound scan.
For all queries please contact our customer care team or click the booking link below.
How do I prepare for an Ultrasound Guided Injection?
- No specific preparation is required for an ultrasound guided injection.
How do I book?
To begin the booking process we will need some details and clinical information which is reviewed by our clinical team and then our customer care team will contact you and book you in. To get started please click the begin booking button at the top of this page or you can click here.
Ultrasound in General: Background
An ultrasound scan is a painless test that provides images of the inside of the body by using high-frequency sound waves. These sound waves are at a frequency which cannot be heard by the human ear but when they bounce off different parts of the body, create echoes that are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image.
Unlike other scans such as MRI and CT, ultrasound does not involve radiation and is in real-time i.e. live imaging and is not static i.e. still pictures. This live information is interpreted and is used as the basis of the subsequent diagnostic report.
Many kinds of ultrasound scans can be performed as ultrasound has numerous applications in healthcare and are ultimately beneficial to us if used in the right context by a competent body or person. However, as with any test, ultrasound scans have limitations some of which are generic to all scans such as not being able to visualise bone clearly or scan specific and therefore may not be suitable in certain situations and like any test cannot diagnose every problem.
For further information about ultrasound please click here.
Please note
- We will require details of your GP / Health Care Professional, which may be requested before or at the time of the scan.
- This scan requires access to the area of interest; therefore, it is recommended to wear loose clothing to facilitate this process.
- All our first line ultrasound scans are optional. You must be at least 16 years old and you should have no existing medical condition or treatment pending that relates to the scan you are booking. If you are in any doubt about having any type of scan, you should consult your GP.