What imaging modality guided the right hip corticosteroid injection?

• A. Fluoroscopy
• B. Ultrasound
• C. CT
• D. MRI

Answer: (A)

Imaging guidance for placing a corticosteroid into the hip relies on real-time visualization to hit the right spot in a deep joint. Fluoroscopy provides continuous X-ray imaging, so the clinician can see the needle path as it travels toward the hip joint and can inject contrast to confirm the needle tip is actually inside the joint capsule before delivering the steroid. This real-time verification helps ensure the medication goes where it’s intended, maximizing effectiveness and reducing the risk of injecting into surrounding tissues.

Ultrasound can be used for some joint injections and avoids radiation, but the hip is deep and the visualization of the joint space can be challenging, making consistent intra-articular placement more technique-dependent. CT offers precise localization but involves more radiation and cost, and isn’t typically used for routine hip injections. MRI-guided injections are not common in standard practice due to practicality and resource demands. Therefore, fluoroscopy is the standard choice for guiding a right hip corticosteroid injection.