Ultrasound-Guided Injections in Tendons, Ligaments, and Joints

Probably one of the most common applications of ultrasound-guided procedures in equine practice are injections to tendons, ligaments, and joints. These techniques are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in equine orthopedics. Accurate injection of medication inside of the joint or within a tendon or ligament lesion can completely change the response to a therapy and the outcome of a patient. On the other hand, precise injections will also decrease the risk of tissue trauma, complications, and poor responses. This chapter reviews the most common applications and the reported techniques in this field, always striving to help the clinician to select the most adequate technique based on the best evidence available. Injections to tendons and ligaments, cervical facet joints, thoracolumbar facet joints, sacroiliac joint, coxofemoral joint, scapulohumeral joint, and medial femorotibial joint will be discussed in depth.