GENERAL

General Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSK Ultrasound) is a dynamic, non-invasive exam that allows high resolution, real-time evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders. It is an excellent complement to MRI and a reliable modality for diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders related to traumatic injury, degeneration and for patients who can’t undergo MRI. Non-invasive and dynamic imaging is beneficial when range of motion is lost due to acute or chronic injury to major tendons, as well as in pain management and urgent care. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a unique modality which will enhance patient care.

FREE VIRTUAL CONSULTATION

Guidelines : American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

The AIUM (American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine) in collaboration with the ACR (American College of Radiology) developed a practice guideline for the performance of the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound examination.

The AIUM Practice Guideline for the Performance of the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Examination, obtains practical information such as, but not limited to, specifications for individual musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations and documentation.


Below you will find the indications for Musculoskeletal Ultrasound based on the AIUM guidelines:

  • Shoulder examination: evaluation of shoulder pain or dysfunction
  • Elbow examination: soft tissue injury, tendon pathology (including tendinopathy, enthesopathy and tears), ligament pathology, arthritis, loose bodies, soft tissue masses, nerve entrapment, effusion and bone injury.
  • Wrist and Hand examination: soft tissue injury, tendon pathology (tendinopathy, tenosynovitis and tears), arthritis, soft tissue masses or swelling (including ganglion cysts), nerve entrapment, effusion, foreign bodies and bone injuries.
  • Hip examination: soft tissue injury, tendon pathology, arthritis, soft tissue masses or swelling, nerve entrapment, effusion and bone injury
  • Knee examination: soft tissue injury, tendon and collateral ligament pathology, arthritis, soft tissue masses or swelling, loose intra-articular bodies, effusion and bone injury.
  • Ankle and Foot examination: soft tissue, tendon and ligament injury, arthritis, soft tissue masses or swelling, intra-articular loose bodies, effusion, bone injury, Morton™s neuroma, plantar fasciitis, stress fracture and foreign bodies.
  • Peripheral nerve examination: compression neuropathies, neuritis, nerve masses, nerve trauma and nerve subluxation.
  • Soft tissue mass examination: determining the cystic or solid nature of a mass as well as its size, vascularity, margins and relationship to adjacent structures.
  • Interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound: aspiration of cysts, fluid collections and abscesses, arthrocentesis, insertion of drainage catheters, ultrasound-guided biopsy, medicinal injections, intra-articular injection of contrast agents, lavage and aspiration of tendon calcifications and foreign body retrieval.
  • Detection of foreign bodies: especially non-radiopaque foreign bodies such as wood, plastic and certain types of glass.


To download the complete pdf file on the AIUM Practice Guideline please click the following link:

http://www.aium.org/publications/guidelines/musculoskeletal.pdf