Corticosteroid Injections of Joints and Soft Tissues eMedicine PMR

Description: Use of cortisone injections in the treatment of muscle and joint inflammatory reactions is becoming increasingly popular. First popularized by Janet Travell, MD, muscle injections are a remarkably effective adjunct to pharmacologic and physical therapies and are safe and easy to perform. Joint injections, while technically more difficult to perform, also can be of great benefit in the patient's recovery. The purpose of this article is to introduce the basic principles of muscle and joint injections. Other references can provide specific details on how to inject at a given anatomic location, such as for bursitis, tenosynovitis, or intra-articular inflammation.
ContentsUse of cortisone injections in the treatment of muscle and joint inflammatory reactions is becoming increasingly popular. First popularized by Janet Travell, MD, muscle injections are a remarkably effective adjunct to pharmacologic and physical therapies and are safe and easy to perform. Joint injections, while technically more difficult to perform, also can be of great benefit in the patient's recovery. The purpose of this article is to introduce the basic principles of muscle and joint injections. Other references can provide specific details on how to inject at a given anatomic location, such as for bursitis, tenosynovitis, or intra-articular inflammation.
Jess D Salinas Jr, MD & Jerrold N Rosenberg, MD 2001 Updated: Feb 26, 2009