ABSTRACT
For physicians interested in diagnosis and treatment of joint disease, it is important to study the methods for needle access. Once a reliable joint access is achieved, one can inject therapeutic substances, such as lidocaine or steroid; aspirate joints suspected of harboring infection; and perform diagnostic arthrograms. Image guidance is the basis for reliable articular procedures, as definitive placement can be documented. This chapter will discuss the techniques and approaches for image-guided needle placement into the major and minor joints.
