Arthrogram

What you should know

• An arthrogram is an x-ray procedure to look at one of your joints. Your joints are the places in your body where two bones meet. Your joints are surrounded by tissues such as muscles, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Cartilage is the tough tissue that covers the ends of your bones and cushions your joints. Ligaments and tendons connect muscles and cartilage to your bones. An arthrogram is commonly done on knee, hip, elbow, shoulder, ankle, and wrist joints. You may need an arthrogram if you have joint pain, need joint surgery, or to check a prothesis (man-made joint).
  
  
• During an arthrogram, contrast dye is injected (shot) into your joint and an imaging test is done. Imaging tests include a fluoroscopy (special x-ray), computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI is the most common imaging test done for this procedure. Having this procedure may help you and your caregiver learn more about your joint problem. The procedure may also help you and your caregiver decide on the best treatment for your joint pain.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

• You may have an allergic response to the medicines used during your procedure. You may have a burning feeling in your skin when the shot of anesthesia medicine is given. During or after your procedure you may feel weak and faint. The shot may create air bubbles that move into your blood vessels and cause problems breathing. You may have pain, redness, and swelling in the area where your shots were given. Your joint may also become swollen and painful. You may lose feeling in your arm or leg for a short time after the shot is given. Tissues such as muscles and tendons may be injured, and you may bleed. You may also get a skin or joint infection after your procedure. You may be at an increased risk for blood clots. The contrast dye may cause seizures (convulsions) or kidney damage.
  
  
• Without this procedure, your joint problem or pain may worsen. Your caregiver may have trouble deciding what kind of treatment would be best for you. Talk to your caregiver if your have questions or concerns about your condition, medicine, or care.

Getting Ready

Before your procedure:

• Bring your medicine bottles or a list of your medicines when you see your caregiver. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any medicine. Tell your caregiver if you use any herbs, food supplements, or over-the-counter medicine.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop using aspirin or any other prescribed or over-the-counter medicine before your procedure.
  
  
• Your caregiver will check the area around your joint for any signs of infection. Tell your caregiver if you have joint disease or if you have had a joint infection in the past.
  
  
• Tell your caregiver if you have metal in your body from a past surgery. You cannot have an MRI if you have metal in your body. Also tell your caregiver if you have trouble being in tight, closed spaces.
  
  
• Contrast dye is used during your procedure so your caregiver can see your joint better. People who are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may be allergic to some dyes. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish, or have other allergies or medical conditions.
  
  
• You may need to have blood tests done to check your kidney function before your procedure. Ask your caregiver for more information about this and other tests that you may need. Write down the date, time, and location of each test.

The day of your procedure:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.
  
  
• Caregivers may insert an intravenous tube (IV) into your vein. A vein in the arm is usually chosen. Through the IV tube, you may be given liquids and medicine.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist may talk to you before your surgery. This caregiver may give you medicine to make you sleepy before your procedure or surgery. Tell your caregiver if you or anyone in your family has had a problem using anesthesia in the past.

Treatment

What will happen:

• You will be asked to sit or lie down on an x-ray table. You may be given a shot of anesthesia medicine to numb the area around your joint. A long, thin needle will be put into your joint space. Your caregiver may use fluoroscopy to guide him when inserting the needle. Joint fluid may be removed, and a small amount of contrast dye is injected into your joint. The dye will help your caregiver see that he is in the right area. Once the needle is in the right area of your joint space, more dye will be injected. Medicine to help keep the dye in your joint space without spreading to other tissues may also be given.
  
  
• After the dye is given into your joint space, the needle is removed. You may be asked to move your joint around to help the dye coat your whole joint. Fluoroscopic x-rays may then be taken. If an MRI or CT scan will be done, you may be moved to another room. You will need to stay very still while the pictures are being taken of your joint.

After your procedure:

You will be taken to a room to rest after your procedure. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says you can. When caregivers see that you are not having any problems, you may be able to go home. If you are staying in the hospital, you will be taken back to your room.

Waiting area:

This is an area where your family and friends can wait until you are able to have visitors. Ask your visitors to provide a way to reach them if they leave the waiting area.

Contact a caregiver if

• You cannot make it to your procedure on time.
  
  
• You get sick (a cold or the flu).
  
  
• You have new numbness in your arm or leg that has the joint problem.

Seek Care Immediately if

• Your joint is very painful, red, or swollen.
  
  
• You have no feeling in your arm or leg that has the joint problem.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Arthrogram (Precare)