What is Ultrasound Imaging used for?

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Ultrasound has become the gold standard when diagnosing many joint & tendon pain conditions due to it's high resolution images & ability to dynamically assess bone & soft tissue structures. Diagnostic ultrasound is able to examine subtle areas of inflammation, tendon, ligament, and joint capsule tears as well as areas of degeneration to these tissues. This modality also allows experts to see specific areas in greater detail by focusing and zooming the ultrasound probe. Additionally, musculoskeletal tissues can be moved as the ultrasound scan is taking place enabling visualisation of the painful joint, tendon or muscle under normal load. It is non-invasive, safe and painless.

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Some of the most common conditions diagnosed by US imaging

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• Shoulder pain (rotator cuff tendinopathy, tendon tears, bursitis, osteoarthritis, joint effusion)

• Elbow pain (Tennis/Golfer's elbow, tendon tear, inflammation, bursitis, calcification, arthritis)

• Wrist / hand pain (De Quervain's tenosynovitis, Trigger Finger, osteoarthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)

• Hip pain (trochanteric bursitis, joint effusion, inflammation, bony irregularities indicating osteoarthritis)

• Knee pain (tendinopathy, calcification, ligament tears, osteoarthritis, bursitis)​​

• Ankle / foot pain (Achilles/Peroneal/Tibialis Posterior tendinopathy or tears, Morton's neuroma, arthritis)

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Who interprets the results and how do I get them?

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Chris Pruvey is a Physiotherapist and Musculoskeletal Specialist with over 10 years of experience working in musculoskeletal pain management, rheumatology and orthopaedic hospital departments. He has been performing diagnostic imaging and musculoskeletal injections since completing his Masters in 2009. He will interpret and discuss the findings of your imaging study and recommend an appropriate treatment plan which may include exercise rehabilitation, a cortisone injection or Chiropractic care. 

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What are the benefits vs. risks?

 

Benefits

• Ultrasound scanning is non-invasive

• Less expensive than most other imaging methods

• Extremely safe and does not use radiation

• Gives 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 injections and fluid aspiration

• Patients with certain metallic implants often cannot be safely exposed to MRI; however, they can safely receive ultrasound imaging

• 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

• Faster than MRI and does not require the patient to remain completely still.

Risks

• Standard diagnostic ultrasound imaging has no known harmful effects on humans.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​