Published in:
01-01-2013 | Scientific Article
MR arthrography of the shoulder: tolerance evaluation of four different injection techniques
Authors:
Evangelos Perdikakis, Eleni Drakonaki, Thomas Maris, Apostolos Karantanas
Published in:
Skeletal Radiology
|
Issue 1/2013
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Abstract
Objective
We sought to prospectively evaluate patients’ pain perception and technical success of four different arthrographic techniques for shoulder MR arthrography.
Materials and methods
A total of 125 consecutive patients were referred for shoulder MR arthrography. The patients were randomly injected under fluoroscopic guidance (n
1
= 37), with CT guidance using an anterior (n
2
= 29) or a posterior approach (n
3
= 32) and with ultrasound guidance (n
4
= 27). For each patient, absolute periprocedural pain on a numerical rating pain scale (0 = “no pain”, 10 = “intolerable pain”), technical success of the method used, and reason for referral were recorded.
Results
The technical success rate was 100 % for all injection methods. The results regarding absolute periprocedural pain were as follows: fluoroscopic guidance showed a mean pain of 4.05 ± 1.24, CT anterior guidance demonstrated a mean pain of 3.87 ± 0.95, CT posterior guidance showed a mean pain of 1.59 ± 0.81, and ultrasound guidance a mean pain of 3.63 ± 1.12. A significant difference (p < .05) was observed for the posterior route under CT guidance. The mean pain level was significantly higher for older (> 51 year) female patients.
Conclusions
No differences were found for the technical success rate of the aforementioned techniques. A CT-guided posterior approach seems to be a more comfortable method for the patient.