ABSTRACT
Both chronic as well as acute foot and ankle pain are common indications for visits
to general practitioners, rheumatologists, and orthopedic surgeons. The causes for
foot and ankle pain are varied and can include osseous pathology (fractures), yet
the far greater majority are secondary to soft-tissue injuries and inflammation. Regional
corticosteroid injections, traditionally performed using anatomic landmarks, can be
inaccurate and miss intended targets. The use of ultrasound for guidance for interventional
radiologic procedures is well known, including guidance for vascular as well as visceral
interventions. Using sonography to guide for interventions in the musculoskeletal
system, specifically the foot and ankle, yields accurate placement of the needle tip
and subsequent anesthetic/steroid injection as well as diagnostic aspiration of tendon
sheaths, joint spaces, and bursae.
KEYWORDS
Ultrasonography - foot - ankle