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Modification of the curved needle technique using a proximal bend.

The curved needle technique has been utilized by interventionalists for many years and remains the preferred technique among physicians performing interventional pain procedures. The physician utilizes axial and rotational movements of the needle to reach the target point employing incremental adjustments guided by the last image saved on the fluoroscopic monitor. The physician grabs the hub of the needle and exerts the desired maneuver. In order to visualize the position of the needle tip the physician relies on a notch or dot that may be difficult to view in needles with plastic hubs that may become obscured if there is any blood venous return. This wastes time and adds frustration. The goal of modifying the curved needle technique is to create a visual marker to enable the interventionalist to easily and quickly recognize the orientation of the hub of the needle that correlates directly with the orientation of the distal curve. I have been able to achieve this goal by applying a proximal bend 180 degrees away from the distal curve and in the direction of the bevel just below the hub (Fig.1). This simple modification not only enables the physician to save time by quickly identifing the orientation of the hub, but also provides a comfortable grip Modification of the Curved Needle Technique Using a Proximal Bend