How does the arthrogram work?
• A caregiver cleans the skin over the joint with soap and water. This soap may make your skin yellow, but it is cleaned off later. A shot of medicine is put into the skin over the joint. You may still feel pressure or pushing during the arthrogram but the medicine numbs the area and dulls the pain. Another needle is then put into the joint space between the bones. Fluid may be removed from the joint and sent to a lab for tests. • A small amount of x-ray dye is put into the joint and x-rays are taken. The x-ray dye is often called contrast. It helps the needle and the joint show up better. More x-ray dye is put into the joint and the needle is removed. Or, air may be put into the joint and used as a contrast. The area is rubbed with a gauze or it may be sealed close with a glue-like liquid called collodion (kull-o-d-un). A series of x-rays are then quickly taken using fluoroscopy. You will be asked to move into many different positions while the pictures are taken. This test takes abou
