The use of high-volume image-guided injections (HVIGI) for Achilles tendinopathy – A case series and pilot study

Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse condition affecting the adult population. The incidence is on the rise because of greater participation of people in recreational or competitive sporting activities. Chronic Achilles tendinopathy occurs most commonly in the tendon’s mid-portion, and it is challenging to manage, leading to significant patient morbidity. Despite conservative management many patients still require surgical intervention. The mechanism underlying pain is not entirely understood; however, high-resolution color Doppler ultrasound has shown that neovascularisation could be involved. Minimally-invasive treatments for chronic Achilles tendinopathy may prevent the need for surgery when conservative methods have failed. Ultrasound provides an option to guide therapeutic interventions accurately, so that treatment is delivered to the desired site of pathology. High-volume image-guided injection is a relatively new technique where a high volume of liquid is injected between the anterior aspect of the Achilles tendon and the Kager’s fat pad, used to strip away the neovascularity and disrupt the nerve ingrowth seen in chronic cases of Achilles tendinopathy. Highvolume image-guided injection has shown promising results in terms of reducing pain and improving function in patients where conservative measures have failed. This review aims to describe the fundamental technical factors, and investigate the efficacy of high-volume image-guided injection with reference to the available literature.

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High-volume image-guided injection in the chronic recalcitrant non-insertional patellar tendinopathy: a retrospective case series

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics ◽

10.1186/s40634-020-00299-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Torsten Grønbech Nielsen ◽

Lene Lindberg Miller ◽

Bjarne Mygind-Klavsen ◽

Martin Lind

Keyword(s):

Case Series ◽

High Volume ◽

Patellar Tendinopathy ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Duration Of Symptoms ◽

Image Guided ◽

Tendon Thickness ◽

Retrospective Case Study

Abstract Purpose To evaluate if High-volume Image-guided Injection (HVIGI)-treatment for chronic Patellar tendinopathy (PT) improve function and reduce pain at 16-months follow-up. Methods Patients with resistant PT who failed to improve after a three-month eccentric loading program were included in the study. Maximal tendon thickness was assessed with ultrasound. All patients were injected with 10 mL of 0.5% Marcaine, 0.5 mL Triamcinolonacetonid (40 mg/mL) and 40 mL of 0.9% NaCl saline solution under real-time ultrasound-guidance and high pressure. All outcome measures were recorded at baseline and at 16 months. A standardised Heavy Slow Resistance rehabilitation protocol was prescribed after HVIGI-treatment. Clinical outcome was assessed with the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Patella tendon questionnaire (VISA-P) and statistically analyses were performed. Results The study included 28 single treatment HVIGI procedures in PT in 23 patients (19 men, 4 women) with a mean age of 30.3 (range 19–52). The mean duration of symptoms before HVIGI was 33 months. The baseline VISA-P score of 43 ± 17 (range 15–76) improved to 76 ± 16 (range 42–95) after 16 months (p < 0.01). Of the 28 HVIGI procedures 12 patients (15 PT) were not satisfied after the initial HVIGI procedure. Of these, 5 patients (5 PT) had additional HVIGI, 2 patients (2 PT) had corticoid injection and 6 patients (8 PT) needed surgery. Of the remaining 11 patients (13 PT), 9 patients had more than a 13-point improvement in the VISA-P score after 16 months. Conclusions In this retrospective case-study, only 9 patients (32%) did benefit of a single HVIGI treatment at 16-months and a 33-point significant improvement was seen on the VISA-P score.

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