Ann Rehabil Med.  2015 Apr;39(2):163-169. 10.5535/arm.2015.39.2.163.

Accuracy of Needle Placement in Cadavers: Non-Guided Versus Ultrasound-Guided

• Yun JS
• Chung MJ
• Kim HR
• So JI
• Park JE
• Oh HM
• Lee JI

• KMID: 2273036
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2015.39.2.163

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare the accuracy rates of non-guided vs. ultrasound-guided needle placement in four lower limb muscles (tibialis posterior, peroneus longus, and short and long heads of the biceps femoris).
METHODS
Two electromyographers examined the four muscles in each of eight lower limbs from four fresh frozen cadavers. Each electromyographer injected an assigned dye into each targeted muscle in a lower limb twice (once without guidance, another under ultrasound guidance). Therefore, four injections were done in each muscle of one lower limb. All injections were performed by two electromyographers using 18 gauge 1.5 inch or 24 gauge 2.4 inch needles to place 0.5 mL of colored acryl solution into the target muscles. The third person was blinded to the injection technique and dissected the lower limbs and determined injection accuracy.
RESULTS
A 71.9% accuracy rate was achieved by blind needle placement vs. 96.9% accuracy with ultrasound-guided needle placement (p=0.001). Blind needle placement accuracy ranged from 50% to 93.8%.
CONCLUSION
Ultrasound guidance produced superior accuracy compared with that of blind needle placement in most muscles. Clinicians should consider ultrasound guidance to optimize needle placement in these muscles, particularly the tibialis posterior.

Keyword

Cadaver; Electromyography; Ultrasound; Tibialis posterior; Biceps femoris

MeSH Terms

Cadaver*
Electromyography
Head
Humans
Lower Extremity
Muscles
Needles*
Ultrasonography

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and tibialis posterior (TP) are presented on an ultrasound-guided needle placement image (transverse) of the tibialis posterior. Needle (arrow) passed through the TA and interosseous membrane (arrow head), and injectate placed into the tibialis posterior.

• 

  Fig. 2 Photograph of a dissected cadaver with incorrectly placed injectate (yellow and red) into the soleus. The needle passed under the intended tibialis posterior target and into the soleus. TP, tibialis posterior; FDL, flexor digitorum longus; S, soleus.

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