Accuracy and efficacy of ultrasound-guided pes anserinus bursa injection.

PURPOSE

To compare the accuracy and efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided versus blind pes anserinus bursa (PAB) injection in patients with pes anserinus tendinobursitis (PATB).

METHODS

Forty-seven patients with clinically diagnosed PATB were randomly assigned to a US-guided group or a blind group of steroid injection. In the US-guided group, the injectate was delivered under sonographic visualization. In the blind group, the conventional technique was used without any visual guidance. After the PAB injection, the injectate location was identified using US in both groups. Treatment effects were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) of knee tenderness. Outcomes were measured before, 1 week and 4 weeks after the injection.

RESULTS

Both groups showed pain relieving at 1 week and 4 weeks after the injection. The injectate in the US guided group were found to be accurately at the PAB in all subjects, whereas blind group were found to be just in 4 of 22 subjects. The US-guided group showed significant improvement of both of VAS scores compared to the blind group at 1 week and 4 weeks after the injection (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that US-guided PAB injection is more accurate and effective than blind injection in patients with PATB.