What is an intra-articular injection?
An intra-articular injection delivers medication directly into the affected joint. The aim is to reduce pain and inflammation and restore ease of movement.
What types are there?
- Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) — supports the lubricating and shock-absorbing function of joint fluid.
- Steroid — to reduce inflammation in acute inflammatory conditions.
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma) — prepared from the patient’s own blood.
- Exosomes — one of the modern regenerative approaches.
- Prolotherapy — used in selected tendon problems.
How is the injection performed?
Procedures are performed under ultrasound guidance, which shows the needle’s exact position in the joint space. The same technique can be used to drain excess fluid (effusion) that has collected in the joint.
Which procedures are performed under ultrasound guidance?
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound examination
- Intra-articular injections, including PRP and exosomes
- Peritendinous injections (around tendons)
- Intramuscular botulinum toxin
- Peripheral nerve blocks
Who is it for?
Patients with knee or shoulder joint pain, wear of the joint cartilage (arthrosis), a Baker’s cyst or fluid in the joint — where the condition does not require surgery. More: Knee pain, Shoulder pain.