Diagnostic Ultrasound

Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound performed by an orthopedic surgeon on his patient

What is ultrasound imaging of the musculoskeletal system?

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is safe and painless. It is an advanced imaging technique that uses sound waves to help your doctor visualize an area of the body and diagnose the cause of pain. This imaging method can also be used to accurately guide therapeutic injections (i.e. cortisone, gel shots).

How is this imaging technique used to diagnose orthopedic problems?

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is performed using a portable machine in the examination room. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the body. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back. A computer uses those sound waves to create an image that your doctor can visualize on a monitor.

When might it be used to help with diagnosis of an orthopedic problem?

Musculoskeletal ultrasound images are typically used to help diagnose:

Rotator Cuff Tendon Tears
Ankle Achilles Tendon Tears or Tendonitis
Shoulder Tendonitis/Impingement
Muscle tears, Masses or Fluid collections
Joint Fluid (effusions)
Bursitis
Tennis Elbow
Ganglion Cysts
MCL/PCL Tears of the Knee
Patellar Tendonitis

What are the benefits vs. risk?

Benefits:

Easy-to-use and less expensive than most other imaging methods.
Extremely safe and does not use radiation.
Provides a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images.
Provides real-time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding procedures such as joint injections and fluid aspiration.
Patients with cardiac pacemakers and certain types of metallic implants cannot be safely exposed to the strong magnetic field required for MRI; however, these patients can safely receive ultrasound imaging.
Ultrasound is also an excellent alternative to MRI for claustrophobic patients.
Compared to MRI, ultrasound may provide greater internal detail when assessing soft tissue structures such as tendons and nerves.
Because ultrasound images are captured in real time, they can show the movement of a soft tissue structure such as a tendon, joint or an extremity.

Risk:

Standard diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound has no known harmful effects on humans.