Injection is an essential procedure in medicine, let alone in hand surgery. It entails
the insertion of a sharp pointed hollow needle into the body for 2 reasons. Firstly,
to retrieve tissue samples from the body and secondly, for the delivery of substances
into the body. Injection is thus meant for either diagnostic, therapeutic or both
purposes.
Injection provides the hand surgeon with an added option in his/her armamentarium
in the management of patient’s condition. It is thus important for the surgeon to
be well versed in this procedure that has been proven to be beneficial. A thorough
knowledge of the human anatomy and techniques of injection are the important prerequisites
in order to achieve success in the use of this tool.
Although it is a minimally invasive procedure, it is not totally safe or innocuous.
It has the potential to cause noxious experience for the patient either physically
or psychologically. Sometimes the traumatic experience may leave the patient scarred
for life and they often develop trypanophobia (fear of injections) and needle phobia
subsequently.
Before the advent of proper imaging modalities, the procedure is virtually done blind
and hence there is always a risk of potentially damaging structures within the body
through trauma during needle insertion. In the current setting where quality imaging
with more modalities and options available, injections nowadays can be done under
quality imaging guidance thus minimizing or even eliminating the risk of collateral
damage within the body.
In addition, injections can now be done to regions of the body that are deeper and
less accessible compared to the days when injections were done blind. Appropriate
tissues can be obtained, accurate and optimal delivery of therapeutic substances can
be achieved leading to better outcomes for the patients.