Interventional Procedures in Musculoskeletal Radiology

Abstract

Interventional radiological techniques are efficacious in diagnosing and treating certain types of musculoskeletal pathology. This chapter describes several of these techniques in three sections.

The first section describes the diagnosis and treatment of back pain. There is a detailed description of the relevant anatomy, including terminology, to describe pathology as it appears radiographically. Specific techniques are then described, including discography, nerve root injection, facet blocks, epidural injections, vertebroplasty, and kyphoplasty. Also included with each technique is a brief discussion regarding indications, potential complications, and figures to help elucidate the procedure.

In the second section of the chapter, arthrography and bursography are similarly described. Joint pathology is discussed and figures are included to depict techniques targeting the shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle. There is also a section that describes viscosupplementation vs. injection of corticosteroids. Again, indications and potential complications are included.

The third section describes percutaneous interventional techniques used to biopsy or treat lesions of the musculoskeletal system, both osseous and soft tissue. Both benign and potentially malignant lesions are discussed. Particular attention is paid to benign lesions such as osteoid osteomas, unicameral bone cysts, and aneurysmal bone cysts. The radiographic appearance of musculoskeletal lesions are described in great detail and demonstrated with figures as examples.

Finally, there is a list of further readings should the reader desire more information on a particular topic. Hopefully, the reader will find the chapter an informative guide to the aforementioned topics and procedures.