As an important diagnostic tool for pain management healthcare professionals, point-of-care ultrasound systems (POCUS) are portable, focused, accessible, and quick, delivering real-time and interactive diagnostic imaging. When used, point-of-care ultrasound decreases image timing and expenses while increasing accuracy. nnIn the field of Pain Management, healthcare professionals rely on ultrasound for guidance with interventional pain management procedures. With exceptional visualization of soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, and vascular structures, ultrasound enhances the accuracy in pain management injection procedures. nnCompared to blind injection procedures, real-time visualization for needle-guided procedures allows clinicians to administer injections accurately. Real-time visualization also eliminates the need for patients to be exposed to ionizing radiation or contrast dye injection.
Advancements in Joint Injection
Since the end of the 19th century, clinicians have injected anti-inflammatory or disinfecting agents into patients’ joint spaces to provide pain relief. In 1929, medical professionals began injecting cortisone into the joint spaces instead. This became the pain-relieving treatment of choice by the 1950s. Clinicians, to this day, inject joint spaces with cortisone and other therapeutic agents.
Since ultrasound and other imaging equipment were unavailable during this time, this procedure was essentially a blind technique, requiring a thorough knowledge of anatomy as well as a significant amount of practice to achieve proficiency. However, the considerable experience did not eliminate the potential risk of making an error due to variances in a patient’s anatomy or other factors. nnThe introduction of POCUS has ensured that the procedure is easier to learn and master. Healthcare professionals can now access an ultrasound device to guide joint injections. POCUS guarantees clinicians administer the injection at the correct location with reduced risk of injury to surrounding structures or delivery of medication to a suboptimal site. POCUS has shortened the learning curve: clinicians with a good baseline knowledge of relevant anatomy as well as hands-on training can perform injection procedures with confidence and accuracy.
How to Select the Proper Pain Management Point-of-Care Ultrasound System
With so many pain management ultrasound machines on the market, it can be daunting to select a POCUS that best suits your clinic. As a leading provider of pain management point-of-care ultrasound systems, the team at Advanced Ultrasound Systems is here to help simplify your decision. Our knowledgeable sales team can help determine your precise needs, price range, and other unique factors to pair your clinic or healthcare facility with the perfect option. No matter what your needs may be, the team at AUS is here to help make it easy to invest in a point-of-care ultrasound system!
Some of the point-of-care ultrasound systems that AUS recommends for pain management include:
