Chapter 59 Interventional Techniques for Pain Management Flashcards
Interventional management of musculoskeletal and joint
pain may include
injection either into the joint space
(intra-articular), around the joint space (periarticular)
or within specific soft tissue structures
Injections may be with
corticosteroid, local
anesthetics, or viscoelastic supplementation.
Shoulder pain defined as chronic when
it has been present for longer than 6 months.
Common conditions that
can result in chronic shoulder pain include
rotator cuff disorders,
adhesive capsulitis, shoulder instability, and shoulder
arthritis.
Persistent shoulder pain can also result from
bursitis, tendonitis, impingement syndromes, avascular necrosis,
other causes of degenerative joint disease, or traumatic injury.
Joint injection
should be considered after
failure of conservative interventions
such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and
physical therapy
Imaging studies
plain radiographs,
magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, and
computed tomography scans may be indicated either when
the etiology is unclear or if findings would change the management.
The glenohumeral joint
multiaxial ball-and-socket
synovial joint
glenohumeral joint relatively unstable
the humeral head is larger than the
glenoid fossa, only part of the humeral head can be in articulation with the glenoid fossa at any given joint position
glenoid labrum
a rim of fibrocartilaginous tissue that surrounds the glenoid fossa thereby deepening the articular cavity. Additionally, it protects the bony edges and provides
lubrication to the joint
strengthen the labrum
The tendons of the long head of the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles
The glenohumeral joint itself is surrounded by
thin loosely fitting capsule that attaches medially to the
margin of the glenoid fossa beyond the labrum and laterally to the anatomical neck extending slightly below the shaft of the humerus.
vital to the maintenance of structural integrity of
the glenohumeral joint.
the capsule contributes little
to the overall stability of the joint, it is the ligaments and
the attachment of the muscle tendons of the rotator cuff.
glenohumeral joint is supported by
Superiorly, the joint is supported by the capsule in conjunction with the coracohumeral ligament, anteriorly, by the glenohumeral ligaments and the attachment of the subscapularis tendon and posteriorly, by the attachment
of the teres minor and infraspinatus tendons. Inferiorly, however, the capsule is thin and weak and contributes
little to the stability of the joint
The inferior part of the glenoid capsule is subjected to considerable strain
as it is stretched tightly across the head of the humerus when the arm is elevated
The tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii muscle is situated in the
intertubercular groove, and then becomes intracapsular. It is particularly prone to injury at the point where it arches over the humeral head and at the junction of bony cortex with
articular cartilage
Indications for glenohumeral joint injection
osteoarthritis, adhesive capsulitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis present
with
gradual onset of pain and loss of motion.
Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder
typically occurs after prolonged immobility of the arm. Clinical presentation
includes diffuse shoulder pain with the inability to abduct at the shoulder more than just a few degrees in any direction. Shoulder examination reveals diffuse pain with palpation and reduced active and passive range of motion in all planes. Remarkably, findings
on radiography will often be normal.
Adhesive capsulitis can be associated with
diabetes and thyroid disorders
The glenohumeral joint can be injected from
an
anterior or posterior approach.
modified anterior approach for glenohumeral joint injection
injection into the
rotator cuff interval has been described to avoid injury to
the subcoracoid bursa, subscapularis muscle and tendon
or the inferior glenohumeral ligament
Patient’s Positioning for glenohumeral joint injection
it is recommended that for easy access of the joint the patient be comfortably seated with his arm at the side, and the shoulder externally rotated for the anterior approach (i.e., palm facing out or forward). By
externally rotating the arm, more anterior articular surface
of the humeral head is exposed. Additionally, it ensures that the long head of the biceps tendon is removed
from the injection tract. On the contrary, internal rotation
of shoulder is preferred in posterior approach with
the forearm across the body and the ipsilateral hand
touching the contralateral elbow.
Blind Anterior Approach for glenohumeral joint injection
The needle should be placed
just medial to the head of the humerus and 1 cm lateral to
the coracoid process. The needle is directed posteriorly
and slightly superiorly and laterally to avoid the cephalic
vein, brachial plexus and axillary artery located medial to the coracoid. When the needle hits the bone (humeral
head), it should be withdrawn slightly into the joint space