Ultrasound-guided injections such as steroid injections are common procedures involving the musculoskeletal system. They are usually performed after a subcutaneous injection of local anesthetic (LA), which can be painful. In 126 consecutive patients, local anesthesia was performed using ethyl chloride spray prior to a therapeutic ultrasound-guided injection in joints, tendons, or bursae. Ninety-nine (78.5%) patients found the use of ethyl chloride spray helpful. The use of ethyl chloride spray is an effective, patient-friendly alternative to the standard injection of local aesthetic for ultrasound-guided therapeutic musculoskeletal injections with the advantage of a lower cost of $0.18 per procedure.
Keywords: ethyl chloride spray; local anesthetic; musculoskeletal system; ultrasound guided injections.
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