An arthrogram is a medically imaging procedure used to help diagnose joint issues in clearer detail. A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the skin and area around your affected joint, before contrast dye is injected into the joint. Images of the area are then taken using either CT or MRI.

Autologous blood injections are a procedure that involves the injection of a patient’s own blood into an area of the body to promote healing. It is commonly used to treat degeneration of tendons (tendonitis, tendinosis, or tendinopathy), which frequently occur in association with small tendon tears. It has also been used to treat disease of fasciae, ligaments, and joints.

Drainage is a procedure performed to remove a collection of fluid in the body. Fluid can build up in different parts of the body for various reasons, including infection, after trauma or surgery, joint swelling, lymph fluid and more. Local anaesthetic will numb the site before a needle will be inserted into the area to be drained. It is guided into place under imaging, normally ultrasound or CT. A plastic tube may also be inserted to drain the fluid.

Epidural injections are used in pain management and involve a cortisone (steroid) injection in the spine, into the epidural space around the spinal cord. This procedure is performed by a radiologist using image guidance to ensure precise delivery. 

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) and biopsies are similar procedures which involve taking a small amount of tissue of fluid from your body through a needle. The tissue samples can be used to help diagnose a range of conditions including cancer, infections, or non-cancerous masses.

Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy

This minimally invasive biopsy procedure involves inserting a fine needle into the affected area, and removing a small sample of cells. This is then sent to a pathologist for testing.

FNAs can be performed on almost any part of the body, but are commonly used to identify masses in the breast, thyroid and lymph nodes. FNAs can be performed using image guidance, which helps the radiologist ensure the needle is positioned accurately, and to help reach deeper parts of the body. If the sample tissue is not sufficient enough for a diagnosis, you may be referred for a repeat FNA or a core biopsy. 

Core Biopsy

Core biopsies are performed using a specialised needle to allow for a solid ‘core’ of tissue to be removed during the procedure, in comparison to the smaller sample of cells removed during an FNA biopsy.  The core sample is generally sufficient enough for a definitive diagnosis. 

Also known as a Hydrodistension, Hydrodilatation is commonly used to treat Adhesive Capsulitis or frozen shoulder. It involves the injection of saline, local anaesthetic, and cortisone into the joint under Ultrasound guidance. It may also be useful in releasing scar tissue in the muscles of the calf.

If an earlier MRI of your prostate has shown abnormalities, your Urologist may request a second MRI in order to find out exactly what is the matter. During this scan any visible abnormalities will be biopsied with a needle. During the scan, the MRI images are used to guide the needle into the most suspicious regions.  Some of the advantages of MRI Guided Prostate Biopsies include greater accuracy (especially with small lesions) and less trauma to the prostate with fewer needles inserted into the gland.

A Nerve Root Sleeve injection (NRSI) is an injection of local anaesthetic and/or steroid into the sheath around the nerve. The injection is done to alleviate pain of the nerve caused by inflammation, post-surgical scarring, arthritis in an adjacent spinal joint, or other less common causes.

Please inform the booking staff if you are on Warfarin, Plavix, or any other blood thinning agents, or have any other medication allergies.

A Pars Defect Injection is performed on patients diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, a stress fracture of the narrow bridge of bone between the facet joints (pars interarticularis) at the back of the spine.  The fracture can cause vertebra to shift out of place and stretch the nerve roots. Symptoms can include lower back pain, pain in the thighs and buttocks, stiffness, muscle tightness, weakness, tenderness and sciatica.

A Piriformis Injection is an injection of a long lasting steroid into the piriformis muscle in the pelvis. The injection is guided by a CT scanner and will help reduce inflammation or swelling around the nerves that pass near or through the piriformis muscle, often diagnosed as Piriformis Syndrome. This treatment may reduce leg and buttock pain, numbness, tingling or other symptoms that may contribute to nerve inflammation, irritation or swelling.

This injection is an injection of local anaesthetic and/or steroid into and around the Sacroiliac joint. These are small joints where your pelvis and sacrum join. This is an interventional procedure. There is no specific preparation and you may eat and drink as normal before and after the procedure.

Please read and sign this form so that we can be sure you understand the risks and complications potentially associated with this procedure. Please inform the booking staff if you are on Warfarin, Plavix, or any other blood thinning agents, or have any other medication allergies.

TMJ refers to your jaw joint, the temporo-mandibular joint. An injection of local anaesthetic and/or steroid of this joint is performed under  Computed Tomography CT guidance.  The injection is usually done to alleviate pain and rarely to assist in a ‘locked jaw’.

Please inform the booking staff if you are Warfarin, Plavix or any other blood thinning agents, or have any other medication allergies.