Complications of arthrography.

Arthrography is considered extremely safe since reactions to intraarticular contrast media are rare. We have only seen one severe complication in the performance of more than 2,000 arthrographic procedures. To determine the incidence of complications, a questionnaire was sent to 84 radiologists experienced in arthrography. The 57 respondents had performed more than 126,000 arthrographic procedures, and findings of the survey indicate no deaths, three cases of infection, and 61 cases of hives. Other acute reactions included hypotension, seizures, air embolism, and laryngeal edema. Related complications included sterile chemical synovitis, severe pain after the procedure, and vasovagal reactions.