The accuracy of ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided peroneal tendon sheath injections.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe and to validate an ultrasound-guided peroneal tendon sheath (PTS) injection technique and to compare the accuracy of ultrasound-guided vs. palpation-guided PTS injections in a cadaveric model.

DESIGN: Twenty cadaveric lower limbs were injected with and without ultrasound guidance, using a different color of liquid latex for each injection technique. The injections were performed by a single investigator in a randomized order. Cadaveric specimens were dissected 1 wk later by a blinded investigator who graded injection accuracy on a 3-point scale (1, accurate; 2, partially accurate; 3, inaccurate).

RESULTS: Ultrasound-guided injections were 100% (20 of 20) accurate whereas palpation-guided injections were 60% (12 of 20) accurate (P = 0.008). Six palpation-guided injections were partially accurate, and two were inaccurate. Two of the partially accurate and both of the inaccurate injections were intratendinous.

CONCLUSIONS: In a cadaveric model, ultrasound-guided PTS injections are significantly more accurate than palpation-guided injections. When performing PTS injections, clinicians should consider ultrasound guidance to improve injection accuracy and minimize potential complications such as intratendinous injection.