Ultrasound Guided Injection

We are pleased to offer bulk-billed, ultrasound-guided cortisone injections. Imaging modalities are commonly used to assist with corticosteroid injections. The most common ultrasound-guided injections are to the bursa of the shoulder and hip which we are pleased to offer. We can also perform knee joint, forefoot and other miscellaneous cortisone injections. We recommend you submit your referral and have a chat with our friendly team so we can best guide you.

What is an ultrasound guided injection?

An ultrasound guided injection uses real-time ultrasound imaging to precisely guide a needle into the correct anatomical location for a cortisone or other therapeutic injection. Ultrasound guidance allows the clinician to visualise the target structure — a bursa, tendon sheath, or joint — and direct the needle under direct live vision. This improves accuracy, reduces discomfort, and ensures the medication is delivered exactly where it is needed.

Conditions we treat

• Shoulder: subacromial bursitis, rotator cuff tendinopathy, AC joint arthritis, glenohumeral joint arthritis, biceps tendon sheath
• Hip: greater trochanteric bursitis (lateral hip pain), hip joint arthritis, iliopsoas bursitis
• Knee: knee joint arthritis, prepatellar bursitis, pes anserine bursitis
• Forefoot: Morton’s neuroma, metatarsal bursitis

What to tell us before booking

Please let us know at booking if you are taking blood-thinning medications (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, apixaban, rivaroxaban, or dabigatran), as this may affect whether the injection can proceed safely on the day. Also advise us if you have a known allergy to local anaesthetic or cortisone, or if you have diabetes — cortisone can temporarily raise blood sugar levels.

What to expect

The skin over the injection site is cleaned and the ultrasound probe is positioned to identify the target structure. A local anaesthetic may be administered first to numb the area. The therapeutic injection is then delivered under real-time ultrasound guidance. The procedure typically takes 20–30 minutes in total including setup and a brief rest period after the injection.

After the injection

Some localised soreness is normal for 24–48 hours as the local anaesthetic wears off. Avoid strenuous use of the injected area for 48 hours. The cortisone effect typically builds over 5–7 days. If your dominant arm or leg was injected, ensure you are comfortable to drive before leaving the clinic.