To assess the feasibility of ultrasound-guided intraarticular contrast injection using the posterior approach for MR arthrography.

Between June 2002 and October 2004, 132 patients (29 female, 103 male: mean age, 33.6 years) underwent ultrasound-guided intraarticular contrast media injection (40 ml saline+10 ml 2% lidocaine(R)+0.2 ml gadopentetate dimeglumine+0.4 ml epinephrine(R) for MR arthrography. The patients were classified into four groups, viz. the no leakage group, the minor leakage with successful intraarticular injection group, the major leakage with unsuccessful intraarticular injection group, and the injection failure group.

The "no leakage" and "minor leakage" groups were considered to be technical successes, while the "major leakage" and "injection failure" groups were regarded as technical failures. The technical success rate of ultrasound-guided intraarticular contrast injection using the posterior approach for MR Arthrography was 99.2% (131/132 patients) and one patient 0.7% (1/132 patients) was included in the "major leakage" group.

Ultrasound-guided intraarticular contrast injection using the posterior approach for MR arthrography was feasible with a high success rate.