To perform infiltration in the exact location, an ultrasound machine is usually used, which helps guide the needle to the specific point and, thus, not damage healthy tissue. Normally a local analgesic and an anti-inflammatory with corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid are injected. Depending on each case, it will be decided whether it is also necessary to infiltrate vasoconstrictor or vasodilator substances. This type of infiltration is usually used especially in mild joint injuries such as grade I and II chondropathies - injuries to the cartilage of the knee -, bursitis - inflammation of the bursa that protects and cushions the bones, muscles or tendons - or tendinitis - inflammation of the tendons.
Cortisone, despite the bad reputation that surrounds it, continues to Osicent 80 mg (Osimertinib) be a widely used drug for its effectiveness in eliminating or reducing inflammation. When injected directly into the joint, very little passes into the blood, so it hardly affects the rest of the body. It is advisable, however, not to perform more than three infiltrations a year in the same area with corticosteroids, because it could have side effects such as skin depigmentation. Hylauronic acid, for its part, is a viscous material whose purpose is to cushion the joint by helping damaged cartilage or tendon. Infiltration improves tissue hydration, stimulates cell growth and repair.
Doctor Ignacio Ginebreda Martí, director of the department of Traumatology and Orthopedic Surgery (Icatme) of the Dexeus University Hospital.
The most innovative techniques in infiltrations are those that use biological products from the patient's own plasma. Plasma rich in platelets and fibroblast growth factors, known as PRP, can regenerate tissue, in addition to lubricating the joint and reducing inflammation.
The plasma is obtained from the patient's blood which, after a special centrifuge, is isolated and concentrates the factors that will be responsible for the repair. This technique is indicated above all for serious muscle injuries that present hematoma in the muscle. It is applied in a single session and its effect lasts for several months. In addition, it has no side effects, using the patient's own substances.
Infiltration is also managed with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), cells that are found in the bone marrow and are important for producing and repairing both bone, cartilage and fat in the bone marrow. This is a procedure that is used especially in advanced osteoarthritis and degenerative processes. It is a more expensive and invasive method that in some cases must be combined with surgery.
When there is an injury that requires infiltration, it must be taken into account that it is a provisional solution. It is very important that the specialist doctor knows the cause of the injury to carry out the appropriate treatment. Normally, with a cycle of three infiltrations, improvement is noted.
When a patient undergoes an injection, he must ensure that he is not allergic to the substance that is to be injected. Care should also be taken with hypertensive patients or those who suffer from heart disease, since the drugs are anti-inflammatory and could have less favorable results.