Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Guided Injections

This module aims to develop students’ knowledge, practical use and clinical application of ultrasound guided musculoskeletal injections.

The clinical role of ultrasound guided musculoskeletal injections relates to the evidence base supporting its role in the management of many musculoskeletal presentations and the increasing requirement for clinicians to guarantee the site of injection, thereby providing evidence of needle placement.

Clinicians need to have a strong understanding of the theoretical issues underpinning injection therapy including legalities and professional responsibilities. There is a strong emphasis on clinical reasoning in this module ensuring clinicians are able to justify the guided injection intervention’s inclusion in patients’ management pathway.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Integrate musculoskeletal ultrasound skills with injection therapy in the work place.
• Understand the theoretical and scientific principles that underpin the integration of these modalities.
• Critically evaluate and synthesise the current evidence base regarding the efficacy of ultrasound guided injection therapy.
• Evaluate the role of ultrasound guided injections within their professional environment.

You may apply for the module, provided you have formal training in ultrasonography, this will have included musculoskeletal elements. Students must be employed in a professional environment that enables them to complete the work based practice elements.

You will also need to have:

• A relevant first degree OR a relevant professional experience or qualifications that demonstrates ability to study at Level 7
• A minimum of 1 year post-registration experience and relevant musculoskeletal experience.
• Current Registration with the relevant UK or equivalent professional body.
• HCPC or equivalent registration e.g. in case of doctors (GMC) and Nurses (NMC), non-radiographer sonographers must evidence their qualification.
• Access to support in the work place to enable completion of assessment: including a mentor, legally prescribed medication and suitable ultrasound equipment.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language we require an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 450/200.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Module Outline

This module’s delivery reflects the practical but varied nature of musculoskeletal ultrasound guided interventions. Face-to-face teaching will assist the students with the related scientific principles. Tutors will guide the students through the practical processes from preparation of injection equipment through to performing the guided intervention.

Students will be expected to engage in class room discussions exploring professional elements including timing of the intervention in the patient’s management pathway, the overall patient experience and evaluation of practice. A significant proportion of the learning will take place in the student’s work place so the clinical application of ultrasound guided injections can be explored. Learning in the work place ensures the reality of clinical scenarios and professional responsibilities are considered alongside technical issues.

Lectures

Lectures will present theoretical and professional issues and will include:

• Corticosteroids and local anaesthetics – actions, dosage, risks and contraindications.
• Ultrasound Guided Musculoskeletal Injections– what is their role?
• Technical considerations: image optimisation and needle visualisation
• Scope of practice and competency to carry out ultrasound (US) guided injections. Medico-legal and Health & Safety issues.

Independent

Students will need to practice their scanning techniques independently and will need support in the work place to complete the module assessment.

Placement

There is no formal placement requirement but students will need to complete musculoskeletal interventions in the work place as part of their assessment. One or more work place mentors will need to be identified to enable the clinical interventions to be performed.

Mentors will be guided by Clinical Skills Learning Documentation and will be provided with contact details of the module leader who can be contacted if queries arise. All clinical interventions should initially be performed under supervision, this will facilitate the learning and enable the student to develop competency. Work place supervisors need to complete documentation to provide evidence of the student’s learning.

Online

The module teaching material will be available to all registered students via the university’s intranet learning platform, Moodle. This virtual learning environment will also be used as depository to a library of films. These edited films will present protocols for performing ultrasound guided shoulder injections, they will also be matched to the scanning images that will portray needle placement.

This technology brings the class room to the work place so students can learn in their work environment using their own ultrasound systems whilst being assisted by a ‘virtual sonographer’. This technology has been used successfully in other modules and has received positive feedback from students who appreciate the ability to match their own practice with that of an expert.

Tutorials

There are no timetabled tutorials, students are encouraged to e-mail the module leader for learning support if required.

Skills

Initially, students will be introduced to the theoretical considerations that underpin injection therapy and ultrasound guided interventions. There will be an emphasis on practical skill teaching, sessions will include principles of ultrasound guided injections so students are introduced to the skill of needle visualisation before moving onto regionally specific and pathology specific training.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Assessment strategy

Case Study (Learning outcomes 2, 3 and 4.)

Logbook (learning outcome 1)

A log-book that presents 15 ultrasound guided musculoskeletal injections in the work place.

A standard reporting form will be used. This will document the details of the intervention, patient’s signs and symptoms, anatomical area, US scanning features indicative of pathology, injection medication dose and needle placement.

A brief reflection on the procedure including challenges and unexpected considerations will be expected. Each intervention must be accompanied by annotated images of the area scanned and an additional image demonstrating needle placement.

One of the logbook submissions will form the basis for an extended patient report (word limit 400 words). This extended patient report, (submitted as part of the log book) will present a specific work place practice quality assurance system that the student has engaged with e.g. local prescribing policies, pathway development for specific presentations and systems to evaluate practice.

• Fees for 2023-24 (.PDF).

• Fees for 2024-25 (.PDF).

If you have any questions about the module fees please email msk@essex.ac.uk.

In the first instance approach your Education Liaison Manager to see if funding can be secured via the organisation you are working for.

To apply for an individual module please complete the module application form (.docx) and email to msk@essex.ac.uk for the attention of Sophie Young.