Equipment

Equipment used for intra-articular injection of methylene blue includes the following:

Sterile preparation solution and surgical scrubs
Sterile drapes
Sterile gloves
Sterile bowl
Normal saline bottle (~500 mL)
Sterile methylene blue or fluorescein dye
Syringes, 12 mL and 20 or 30 mL
Needles, 18 and 21 gauge
Local anesthetic solution
Sterile 4 × 4 gauze pads

Anesthesia

For anesthesia, inject a local anesthetic agent such as 1% lidocaine subcutaneously until a skin wheal appears before entering the joint space. For more information, see Infiltrative Administration of Local Anesthetic Agents.

Positioning

Positioning varies according to the joint that is to undergo injection.

Technique

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