What is an Iliotibial Band Injection?

• The iliotibial band begins at the hip and extends to the outer side of the shin bone (tibia), just below the knee. It is involved in thigh muscle coordination to provide stability to the outside of the knee joint.
• Inflammation of the iliotibial band produces pain when the knee joint is moved, which may be felt on the lower thigh or outside of the knee.
• An iliotibial band injection involves the injection of local anaesthetic and corticosteroid into the inflamed area.
• This procedure is always performed in the day surgery under X-ray or ultrasound control.

Prior to the Procedure

• All blood thinning products (except aspirin) must be stopped prior to your procedure. You will be advised by letter when to stop taking these medications at the time that your admission date is arranged.
• You are able to take your other regular medications with a sip of water on the morning of your procedure.
• If you are an insulin dependent diabetic you will always be at the beginning of the list. Please bring your insulin with you and it will be given to you following your procedure.
• Hamilton Day Surgery Centre staff will advise you of your fasting and admission times.
• You must not have anything to eat, drink, smoke or chew prior to your procedure.
• You will need to organise someone to drive you home after the procedure as you will not be able to drive for 24 hours after your procedure.

What Will Happen?

1. You will be admitted to the day surgery by a nurse and you will be asked to change into a gown.
2. The anaesthetist will speak with you and place a cannula (plastic needle) into a vein on your hand.
3. In the procedure room, you will be assisted to position on the procedure table.
4. The anaesthetist will give you some sedation into your vein.
5. An X-ray machine will be used to determine where the doctor will place the needle for your procedure.
6. Steroid and local anaesthetic will be injected once correct placement has been established with use of X-ray contrast (Omnipaque). The procedure will take around 10 minutes.
7. After the procedure, you will be placed on a trolley and taken to recovery, where you will remain for around 1 hour.
8. After having something to eat and drink, you will be discharged with a carer.

Post Procedure

• Gentle activity and rest is recommended in the first 24 hours following the procedure. You may then return to normal activity.
• The local anaesthetic will wear off 12 - 18 hours following your procedure.
• The steroid will take 48 hours to start working. During this time, there may be a window of increased discomfort or pain.
• A nurse from HPC will telephone you 24 - 48 hours following your procedure to check on your progress and organise a follow-up appointment.
• The steroid may remain effective for 1 – 6 months, depending on amount of irritation or inflammation present.

If you require further explanation of the procedure, please contact Hunter Pain Specialists nursing staff on (02) 4985 1800.