A new path for ultrasound-guided intra-articular hip puncture in patients without hip joint effusion

Objective: This study aimed to establish a new path for ultrasound (US)-guided intra-articular hip joint puncture in patients without hip joint effusion.Methods: In total, 113 consecutive patients were enrolled from August to October 2021. Moreover, 125 hip joint punctures were performed in 113 consecutive patients. All patients were randomly divided into two groups: the new-puncture path (the puncture of the needle along the long axis of the femoral neck from the proximal to the distal side) and classic-puncture path (the puncture of the needle along the long axis of the femoral neck from the distal to the proximal side) groups. Four outcomes, including single-puncture technical success, visual analog scale (VAS) score during puncture, puncture depth, and puncture time, were compared between the groups. Complications were compared between the groups. Correlation analysis was used to evaluate the factors related to the four outcomes.Results: No significant differences in single-puncture technical success, VAS score during puncture, and complications were observed between the two groups. The puncture depth was shorter in the new-puncture path group than in the classic-puncture path group. The puncture time was shorter in the new-puncture path group than in the classic-puncture path group. The puncture depth was correlated with the puncture path, body mass index, and sex. The puncture time was correlated with the puncture path.Conclusion: The new-puncture path can be used as a new US-guided hip puncture path for patients without hip joint effusion, with the advantages of shorter puncture path and puncture time.Advances in knowledge: The current study introduces a new-puncture path that can be added with the classic-puncture path.