Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a painless and safe imaging technique used to examine all accessible muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and parts of joints.

It typically covers areas such as the shoulder, elbow, hip, hand, knee, ankle, foot, lower leg, wrist, and thigh. The high-resolution imaging of surface structures, real-time visualization of individual segments, and the absence of contraindications make ultrasound an excellent complement to other radiological methods (X-ray, CT, MRI) in diagnosing musculoskeletal conditions.

What is musculoskeletal ultrasound?

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a painless and safe imaging technique used to examine all accessible muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and parts of joints. The ultrasound exam, also known as sonography or echography, relies on an ultrasonic probe that is placed on the skin. It emits sound waves that bounce off different types of tissue. The reflected waves are captured by the probe and displayed on a computer as a two-dimensional black-and-white image with varying shades depending on the tissue’s ability to reflect the waves. Thus, for example, bones, muscles, fascia, ligaments and intra-articular spaces will have mutually different echogenicity, that is, the ability to reflect USV waves, which enables them to be easily distinguished in the image.

When is musculoskeletal ultrasound needed?

A musculoskeletal ultrasound of a specific area is recommended by a specialist (general practitioner, orthopedist, physiatrist, traumatologist, or radiologist) based on symptoms affecting that part of the musculoskeletal system. Common indications include:

• Pain in a specific joint or soft tissue
• Visible/palpable masses
• Acute injuries
• Suspicion of inflammatory processes

Ultrasound-guided Interventions

Real-time visualization of a body segment increases the accuracy and effectiveness of various types of injections. Therefore, musculoskeletal interventions, such as:

• Corticosteroid injections
• PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy
• Peripheral nerve blocks

What can musculoskeletal ultrasound show?

Ultrasound examination can reveal a range of pathological changes in joints and soft tissue, including:

• Rotator cuff injuries
• Inflammatory processes in joints; bursitis and synovitis
• Muscle ruptures and fibrosis
• Tendon diseases – tendinopathies (e.g., Achilles tendon injuries)
• Ligament strains and ruptures
• Early signs of rheumatoid arthritis
• Nerve neuropathies (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, meralgia paresthetica)
• Various masses (e.g., ganglion cysts, synovial cysts)
• Fluid accumulations
• Foreign bodies
• Pathologies in newborns: dislocations and hip dysplasia

Ultrasound is particularly useful for assessing various types of arthritis, including:

• Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and monitoring of the condition after diagnosis and during treatment

How is musculoskeletal ultrasound performed?

The area to be examined is exposed by removing clothing or jewelry, and a water-based gel is applied to the ultrasound probe to ensure clear and unobstructed transmission of sound waves from the probe to the tissue and back. The probe is then moved gently over the joint or soft tissue area. The procedure is painless, though it may be slightly uncomfortable if there are sensitive areas. Images are displayed in real-time on a computer, and the physician provides a report and verbal instructions after the examination. The entire procedure usually takes about 15 minutes.

Preparation for musculoskeletal ultrasound

• Before the examination, remove any jewelry that could interfere with imaging.
• Wear clothing that is easy to remove from the area to be examined.

Precautions

Ultrasound is a completely safe radiological method that does not use harmful ionizing radiation (unlike X-ray or CT) and has no contraindications.

Cost of musculoskeletal ultrasound

You can check the price of the inspection in the current price list.

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