Musculoskeletal Infiltration

Cortisone injections (viscosupplementation i.e. hyaluronan or another product) is a common medical intervention to treat pain and inflammation in joints or tendons. Fast, targeted and effective, these injections provide relief for many musculoskeletal conditions.

Why have a musculoskeletal infiltration (cortisone injection)?

Cortisone injections (viscosupplementation i.e. hyaluronan or another product) are commonly prescribed to treat a variety of physical problems that cause pain or inflammation. Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory that helps relieve pain through local action.

The treatment is indicated for problems such as:

• Knee, hip, shoulder or hand osteoarthritis
• Tendonitis of the rotator cuff and gluteal tendons
• Shoulder and hip bursitis (inflammation of the bursae)
• Lumbar pain associated with facet joint inflammation

Each patient is evaluated individually to determine if this treatment is suitable for their condition.

Preparation for the test

To optimize the procedure:

Dress comfortably: Choose clothing that allows easy access to the area to be treated.

Report your medications and allergies: Notify us if you are taking anticoagulants, anti-inflammatories or immunosuppressants.

Avoid intense physical exertion of the area concerned before the procedure.

Stay well hydrated and eat a light meal before your appointment. 

You will be given precise instructions depending on the area and nature of the injection.

At the time of your appointment, please make sure you have:

• your valid health insurance card
• the original medical prescription signed by the requesting professional

Musculoskeletal Infiltration Procedure

The procedure for a musculoskeletal injection is quick and takes place in just a few steps:

Initial examination: The doctor identifies the exact area to be treated, often using radiological guidance for precise injection (fluoroscopy or ultrasound).

Preparation of the area: The skin is disinfected and local anesthetic may be applied to reduce discomfort.

Injection: A small amount of cortisone (viscosupplementation i.e. hyaluronan or another product) is injected into the target area.

The procedure takes about 15 minutes. You can usually go home shortly afterwards.

Precautions and contraindications

Although cortisone injections are safe, certain precautions must be taken:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Let us know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Active infections: The injections are not recommended in the case of local or systemic infection.

Diabetes: Cortisone can temporarily raise blood sugar levels. Special monitoring is therefore necessary.

Coagulation problems: Tell your doctor if you are taking anticoagulants or if you have coagulation problems.

Allergies: Report any known allergy, particularly to local anesthetics or cortisone.

The number of infiltrations per year is limited to avoid long-term side effects, such as tissue or cartilage thinning.

Fees

Musculoskeletal injections are a service covered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

To view the fees for all the procedures we perform, please consult our fee schedule. You can also check whether examination fees are covered by the RAMQ.