Shoulder Joint Injections

Shoulder pain is a common complaint in ambulatory care settings that can have a profound impact on the quality of life for many patients. The complexity of the joint makes for many pathologies that can lead to pain in the shoulder. In this chapter, the anatomy of the shoulder, common causes of shoulder pain, various injectates and contraindications to injectates, and multiple interventional techniques including bedside ultrasound guided procedures are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the anatomy of the glenohumeral joint, the acromioclavicular joint, and the subacromial/subdeltoid bursa, discussing the most common ultrasound guided approaches used in clinical practice, and comparing the use of ultrasound to other interventional techniques (fluoroscopy, blind, etc).