Ultrasound-Guided Procedures at Maverick Sports Medicine

Precision matters when it comes to injections and minimally invasive procedures.

Dr. Harrall uses diagnostic ultrasound to guide needle placement in real time, helping ensure that treatments are delivered accurately to the intended target — whether that's a joint, tendon, or nerve.

Ultrasound-Guided Joint Injections

For patients with osteoarthritis and other joint conditions, Maverick Sports Medicine offers ultrasound-guided injections, including corticosteroid injections and viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid) injections. Ultrasound guidance allows Dr. Harrall to visualize the joint space directly, which is intended to support accurate needle placement compared to injections performed without imaging guidance.

Corticosteroid injections may help reduce inflammation and pain associated with certain joint and soft tissue conditions.
Viscosupplementation involves injecting a lubricating substance into the joint and may be considered for select patients with osteoarthritis, particularly of the knee.

As with any treatment, results vary by patient and condition, and Dr. Harrall will discuss whether these options are appropriate as part of a personalized evaluation.

Needle Fenestration (Tenotomy) for Chronic Tendon Conditions

Chronic tendon problems — tendinopathy that has not responded to rest, physical therapy, or other conservative measures — can be difficult to treat. Needle fenestration, sometimes called percutaneous tenotomy, uses ultrasound guidance to precisely target the affected area of the tendon.

This technique involves repeated passes of a small needle through the damaged tendon tissue, with the goal of disrupting the chronic degenerative pattern and stimulating a localized healing response. It's often considered for patients with chronic tendinopathy affecting areas such as the elbow, knee, hip, or Achilles tendon.

Needle fenestration may be performed on its own or in combination with other orthobiologic treatments, depending on the patient's individual presentation.

Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodissection for Nerve Conditions

Hydrodissection is a technique that uses fluid, guided precisely by ultrasound, to gently separate a nerve from surrounding tissue where it may be compressed or entrapped. It's frequently used for common nerve entrapment conditions, including:

Carpal tunnel syndrome (compression of the median nerve at the wrist)
Cubital tunnel syndrome (compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow)

By creating space around the affected nerve, hydrodissection is intended to relieve mechanical pressure and may help reduce the symptoms associated with nerve entrapment, such as numbness, tingling, or pain. For appropriate candidates, it may also be considered as an alternative to explore prior to surgical release.

The Maverick Difference

Ultrasound guidance is only as good as the person using it. Dr. Harrall's background evaluating and treating elite and professional athletes informs how he approaches every image-guided procedure — with attention to precise anatomy, technique, and each patient's individual condition.