Needle Manipulation Techniques

Abstract

Accurate placement of the needle safely and manipulation of these needles in interventional pain management into the body require advanced tactile skills, comprehensive knowledge of anatomy, and expertise with fluoroscopy. Interventional pain management includes a multitude of specialties including not only anesthesiology but also physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, radiology, and surgical specialties. Practitioners with an anesthesiology background often begin interventional pain practice with excellent tactile skills honed from years of performing “blind injections” for regional anesthesia but may lack expertise in the use of fluoroscopic imaging. Those with radiology background may be expert in the use of fluoroscopy but may not have developed the learned tactile techniques of regional anesthesia. The aspiring interventional pain specialist physician from any specialty must develop expertise in regional anesthesia, radiological imaging, and anatomy in order to become an effective and safe practitioner.