Joint Injection

Joint Aspiration and Injection

 

What is knee joint aspiration and injection?
This refers to placing a needle into a joint cavity to remove fluid for analysis, and to inject medicine for pain relief or treatment of a disease. Sometimes the doctor may only remove fluid from the joint fluid to establish a diagnosis for the collection of fluid.

How is the procedure performed?
The needle is inserted into the joint, and fluid may be withdrawn. Without having to perform an additional needle-stick, the syringe with the fluid can be removed, and a syringe with the medicine is placed onto the needle. After injecting the medicine, the needle is removed.

Are there risks with needle aspiration and injection?
Rarely are infections into the joint introduced or the cartilage surface inside the joint damaged by the needle. The only major concern is inserting too much medicine into the joint.

Is the procedure painful?
No, but the procedure can hurt if the needle touches the joint surface. Most people don't feel pain, and no anesthesia is used. Pain occurring hours after an injection may develop from the crystals of medicine but can be prevented by taking ibuprofen.

If I had a large amount of fluid removed from the joint, can it come back?
Yes. A collection of fluid within the joint is called an effusion, which can recur after removal of a large amount of fluid.

What kind medications are usually injected?
Usually the medication is a corticosteroid prepared in a form that will stay largely in the joint. Such injections are given to suppress the pain in that joint for many kinds of arthritis. Another type of injection is hyaluronic acid, which is used only for osteoarthritis.

If medicine is injected, how long will it be effective?
Response to the medicine varies. Call your doctor if the pain returns quickly.