What is an anesthetic corticosteroid (corticosteroid) injection for a patient with a left hip labral tear called?

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Intra-articular Hip Injection

An anesthetic corticosteroid injection for a patient with a left hip labral tear is called an "image-guided anesthetic corticosteroid injection" or more specifically, an "intra-articular diagnostic and therapeutic injection." 1

Nomenclature and Clinical Context

The procedure is formally referred to as:

• "Image-guided anesthetic corticosteroid injection hip joint or surrounding structures" in ACR Appropriateness Criteria 1
• "Intra-articular anesthetic and steroid injection" when performed simultaneously with arthrography 1
• "Diagnostic joint injection" when used to confirm pain etiology 1

Dual Purpose of the Procedure

This injection serves both diagnostic and therapeutic functions in patients with labral tears:

Diagnostic Function

• Injections of anesthetic, with or without corticosteroids, are used as a diagnostic test to distinguish the source of pain 1
• An intra-articular injection relieving pain suggests that the pain is coming from the joint 1
• Diagnostic joint injections are safe and useful tools for confirming the etiology of pain (such as labral tear) 1

Therapeutic Function

• When arthrography is performed, a simultaneous intra-articular injection of anesthetic and steroid can provide diagnostic information and be therapeutic 1
• Intra-articular anesthetic and steroid injections can be performed as a diagnostic or therapeutic tool 1

Clinical Application in Labral Tears

For your specific patient with a left hip labral tear:

• The ACR rates this procedure as 5/9 (may be appropriate) when performed for suspected labral tears 1
• This procedure is often done at the same time as MR or CT arthrography 1
• Diagnostic intra-articular anesthetic and corticosteroid injections can be both diagnostic and therapeutic, with a rating of 5/9 (may be appropriate) 2

Imaging Guidance Requirements

These injections or aspirations should be guided by imaging 1:

• Ultrasound guidance for intraarticular glucocorticoid injection is strongly recommended for injection into hip joints 1
• Imaging guidance for injection into hip joints is strongly recommended 1
• Fluoroscopic guidance is commonly used 3, 4, 5

Important Clinical Caveat

In patients with symptomatic FAI and labral tear, intra-articular cortisone injection has limited clinical benefit as a therapeutic modality 6. However, anaesthetic-only intra-articular injections for patients who may be candidates for hip arthroscopy can be a useful diagnostic tool 6. The therapeutic benefit is typically short-lived, with average duration of pain relief of 9.8 days 6, though diagnostic value remains high for surgical planning 1, 3.