Joint Injection Shoulder This outpatient injection procedure relieves pain in the shoulder and arm caused by arthritis or other damage to the shoulder joint.

The shoulder consists of a number of sites that are amenable to injection therapy both as a diagnostic procedure and as a form of treatment. These include:

• the glenohumeral joint
• the subacromial bursa and space
• the acromioclavicular joint
• the bicipital groove
• a suprascapular nerve block

The choice of injection site and method of approach will vary according to the nature of the symptoms and the precise diagnosis. A good knowledge of the anatomy is required to give these injections accurately. Note that these injections should only be undertaken by clinicians experienced in these procedures.This outpatient injection procedure relieves pain in the shoulder and arm caused by arthritis or other damage to the shoulder joint.
Injections are often performed ‘blind’ (without image guidance) in the clinical setting. The more trained and skilled the clinician is, the more reliable and accurate the injection. Image guided injections are more accurate, but also require a skilled clinician who is familiar with the technique and equipment.

Preparation

The patient lies down, and the shoulder is cleaned and sterilized. Local anesthesia is administered to numb the tissue at the injection site.

Needle Insertion

The physician may use an x-ray device called a fluoroscope to guide a needle to the shoulder joint. Contrast dye is injected to confirm the needle’s position.

Pain Relief Injection

A mixture of anesthetic and steroid medication is injected into the joint to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

End of Procedure

The needle is slowly withdrawn, and the injection site may be covered with a small bandage. Extended pain relief usually begins within two to three days of the injection. In some cases it may be necessary to repeat the procedure up to three times to receive the full benefits of the treatment.