What are the benefits and drawbacks of ultrasound-guided arthrocentesis?

What are the benefits and drawbacks of ultrasound-guided arthrocentesis? What other applications does ultrasound have in primary care? In the next 5 minutes, Wilmer L. Sibbitt, Jr, MD-one of the world's leading authorities on the subject-offers succinct answers to these questions. Dr Sibbitt is professor of rheumatology, internal medicine, and neurology; and director of Rheumatologic Ultrasound at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque. Dr Sibbitt is the author of over 120 peer-reviewed publications total, most dealing with interventional rheumatology, ultrasound-directed procedures, and/or MRI. Dr Sibbitt is cofounder of 4 high technology startup companies and, in 2008, he was recognized as "One of the 100 Notable People in the Medical Device Industry" by MD&DI Journal-only 4 of whom were university-based.

In response to the question posted below, Dr Sibbitt notes that although there are a lot of data to support the use of ultrasound-guided injections, here are the most recent and relevant:

Delea SL, Chavez-Chiang NR, Poole JL, et al. Sonographically guided hydrodissection and corticosteroid injection for scleroderma hand. Clin Rheumatol. 2011 Jan 15. [Epub ahead of print]

Sibbitt WL Jr, Band PA, Chavez-Chiang NR, et al. A randomized controlled trial of the cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-guided intraarticular injection of inflammatory arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2011 Feb;38(2):252-63. Epub 2010 Nov 15.

Sibbitt WL Jr, Peisajovich A, Michael AA, et al. Does sonographic needle guidance affect the clinical outcome of intraarticular injections? J Rheumatol. 2009 Sep;36(9):1892-902. Epub 2009 Jul 31.

Johnson CR, Chavez-Chiang NR, Delea SL, et al. Songraphic guidance and injection of the rheumatoid joint. Arthritis Rheum. 2010; 62:S440(1055).

Chavez-Chiang NR, Delea SL, Sibbitt WL Jr, et al. Outcomes and cost-effectiveness of carpal tunnel injections using sonographic needle guidance. Arthritis Rheum. 2010;62:S677(1626).

Chavez-Chiang NR, Sibbitt WL Jr., Delea SL, et al. Sonographic needle guidance and cost-effectiveness of intraarticular injections for osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis Rheum. 2010; 62:S935(2225).

Sibbitt RR, Palmer DJ, Sibbitt WL Jr, Bankhurst AD. Image-directed fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid with safety-engineered devices. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2010 Nov 6. [Epub ahead of print]

What are the benefits and drawbacks of ultrasound-guided arthrocentesis? What other applications does ultrasound have in primary care?