Chronic joint pain is frequently dismissed as simple, age-related wear and tear. However, many patients—including young adults—may actually be suffering from inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to persistent pain, swelling, stiffness, and irreversible joint damage.
Dr Sumanth M. Rao, Consultant Rheumatologist, KMC Hospital, Mangalore said that, “Early and accurate treatment is crucial in inflammatory arthritis." "Targeted joint injections help control active inflammation quickly and protect the joint,” he added.
In inflammatory arthritis, corticosteroid medication must be delivered precisely into the inflamed joint. Studies show that when injections are given without imaging guidance: knee injections may have misplacement rates of 10–30%, shoulder injections may miss the joint in up to 30–40% of cases and small joints of the wrist, ankle, or fingers can have inaccuracy rates of 30–60%.
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“When the medicine does not reach the joint space accurately, patients may not get adequate relief and may require repeat procedures,” Dr Sumanth said.
With ultrasound guidance, the correct placement improves to over 90–95%.
The first step is a detailed clinical evaluation to confirm which joint is actively inflamed and whether a local injection is appropriate. “We treat the disease as a whole, not just the painful joint,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Pareekshit R., radiologist, said, “using musculoskeletal ultrasound, we visualise the inflamed joint in real time. The needle is guided precisely into the joint space while avoiding surrounding nerves and blood vessels. We can actually see the medication entering the correct area.”
This real-time imaging significantly improves accuracy and safety.
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According to Dr Pareekshit, ultrasound-guided injections offer patients faster and more reliable pain relief by directly targeting inflamed tissue. This precision not only reduces swelling and improves joint mobility but also decreases the need for repeat injections. Furthermore, because the imaging uses sound waves rather than X-rays, it serves as a completely safe, radiation-free outpatient procedure.
“By combining clinical expertise with imaging precision, we are able to provide more accurate and patient-centred arthritis care,” Dr Sumanth said.