Practice of ultrasound-guided arthrocentesis and joint injection, including training and implementation, in Europe: results of a survey of experts and scientific societies

• Published in: Rheumatology (Oxford, England) England), 2012-01, Vol.51 (1), p.184-190
• Main Authors: Mandl, Peter, Naredo, Esperanza, Conaghan, Philip G., D'Agostino, Maria-Antonietta, Wakefield, Richard J., Bachta, Artur, Backhaus, Marina, Hammer, Hilde B., Bruyn, George A. W., Damjanov, Nemanja, Filippucci, Emilio, Grassi, Walter, Iagnocco, Annamaria, Jousse-Joulin, Sandrine, Kane, David, Koski, Juhani M., Möller, Ingrid, De Miguel, Eugenio, Schmidt, Wolfgang A., Swen, Wijnand A. A., Szkudlarek, Marcin, Terslev, Lene, Ziswiler, Hans-Rudolf, Østergaard, Mikkel, Balint, Peter V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Demography; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Education, Medical, Continuing - methods; Europe; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Injections, Intra-Articular - utilization; Medical sciences; Musculoskeletal Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Musculoskeletal Diseases - therapy; Paracentesis - education; Paracentesis - methods; Paracentesis - utilization; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - statistics & numerical data; Professional Practice - statistics & numerical data; Radiology - education; Rheumatology - education; Societies, Medical; Ultrasonography, Interventional - utilization
• ISSN: 1462-0324; 1462-0332
• DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/ker331

Objectives. To document the practice and training opportunities of US-guided arthrocentesis and joint injection (UGAJ) among rheumatologists in the member countries of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). Methods. An English-language questionnaire, containing questions on demographics, clinical and practical aspects of UGAJ, training options in UGAJ for rheumatologists, UGAJ education in the rheumatology training curriculum and other structured education programmes in UGAJ was sent to three different groups: (i) all national rheumatology societies of EULAR; (ii) all national societies of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB); and (iii) 22 senior rheumatologists involved in EULAR musculoskeletal US training from 14 European countries, who were also asked to circulate the questionnaire among relevant colleagues. Results. Thirty-three (75%) of 44 countries responded to the questionnaire (61.3% of national rheumatology societies, 25% of the national US societies and 100% of expert ultrasonographers). In the majority of countries (85%)