• M P Koivikko and S K Koskinen.
• Helsinki Medical Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Töölö Trauma Center, Topeliuksenkatu 5, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland. mika.koivikko@hus.fi
• Acta Radiol. 2007 Sep 1; 48 (7): 741-3.

BackgroundMagnetic resonance arthrography is a well-established diagnostic method in degenerative and traumatic disorders of the shoulder. Some radiologists prefer to apply a local anesthetic to the skin prior to performing the joint puncture. However, no information regarding the efficacy of local anesthetics exists.PurposeTo assess patient discomfort in arthrography injection.Material And MethodsA patient survey (n = 74) utilizing a visual analog scale (VAS) measured the intensity of pain in arthrography injection by those receiving local anesthetics (n = 36) versus those who did not (n = 38).ResultsMean VAS scores were 20.8 (median 10.5, SD 24.3) for those receiving local anesthetics versus 19.3 (median 13.0, SD 20.7) for those who did not (P = 0.83, Mann-Whitney U test).ConclusionRoutine use of local anesthesia of the skin in arthrography injection is unnecessary.

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