Procedure Complications

Injections and aspirations are generally safe, but complications occur, and anyone who injects must be able to anticipate, recognise and manage them.

They fall into 3 groups:

• •Common and usually self-limiting: a post-injection flare or a vasovagal episode
• •Uncommon but serious and time-critical: anaphylaxis, local anaesthetic systemic toxicity and septic arthritis
• •Specific to the agent: skin and fat changes or tendon rupture after corticosteroid

For the sport and exercise medicine (SEM) clinician, the practical skill is knowing which is which when the patient makes contact. This page covers immediate and delayed complications and how they are documented and reported.