Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to produce pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and joints throughout the body. It is used to help diagnose sprains, strains, tears, trapped nerves, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive, and does not use ionizing radiation.

Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. It is safe and painless. It produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging is also called sonography. 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. Ultrasound exams do not use radiation. Because ultrasound captures images in real-time, it can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs. The images can also show blood flowing through blood vessels.

Ultrasound images of the musculoskeletal system provide pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and soft tissues throughout the body.

Ultrasound images are typically used to help diagnose:

• tendon tears or tendinitis of the rotator cuff in the shoulder, Achilles tendon in the ankle and many other tendons throughout the body.
• muscle tears, masses or fluid collections.
• ligament sprains or tears.
• inflammation or fluid (effusions) within the bursae and joints.
• early changes of rheumatoid arthritis.
• nerve entrapments such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
• benign and malignant soft tissue tumors.
• ganglion cysts.
• hernias.
• foreign bodies in the soft tissues (such as splinters or glass).
• dislocations and dysplasia of the hip in infants.
• fluid in a painful hip joint in children.
• neck muscle abnormalities in infants with torticollis (neck twisting).
• soft tissue masses (lumps/bumps) in children.

Most ultrasound exams are painless, fast, and easily tolerated.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound examination is usually completed within 15 to 30 minutes but may occasionally take longer.

When the exam is complete, the technologist may ask you to dress and wait while they review the ultrasound images.

After an ultrasound exam, you should be able to resume your normal activities immediately.