AT ORTHOREGEN®, WE ARE SKILLED IN THE USE OF ULTRASOUND FOR THE TREATMENT OF MUSCULOSKELETAL AND NERVE INJURIES.

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ULTRASOUND IS A MODALITY THAT, AT TIMES, CAN BE MORE USEFUL IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES, THAN MRI. OUR MUSCULOSKELETAL DYNAMIC TESTING USING ULTRASOUND CAN GIVE US FUNCTIONAL INFORMATION THAT STATIC XRAYS, CT SCANS AND MRI CANNOT PROVIDE.

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The use of musculoskeletal ultrasound has dramatically increased over the last five years. At OrthoRegen®, we use Musculoskeletal Ultrasound to precisely place injections to injured muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and joints.  

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ADVANTAGES OF DIAGNOSTIC MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND

 

Musculoskeletal ultrasound has many advantages over x-rays, MRI, and CT scans. 

• no exposure to ionizing radiation

• cost-effective

• better resolution of soft tissue than MRI

• no claustrophobia

• dynamic functional assessment i.e. we can see the examined area move and look for evidence of injury

• ability to see inflammation

• ability to guide injections

• ability to assess ligaments for joint stability

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For example, research has shown that musculoskeletal ultrasound is equal to or even better that MRI for assessing the rotator cuff of the shoulder.  Whilst musculoskeletal ultrasound has many advantages, there are some limitations:

• X-rays, CT Scans and MRI are better at visualising bones

• Ultrasound cannot penetrate bone to visualise inside joints, hence structures such as cartilage can not be assessed

• To perform and interpret musculoskeletal ultrasound confidently takes much training and therefore not many physicians do it

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ULTRASOUND GUIDED INJECTIONS

 

This has to be one of the most advantageous aspects of musculoskeletal ultrasound - the ability for the physician to guide a needle when performing injections.  This is an important skill to acquire and master. Studies have shown that the use of ultrasound guidance for injections increases the accuracy of the injection, which in turn provides better efficacy and better patient outcomes.  Using ultrasound guidance is safer than not using ultrasound as it helps avoid placing the needle in nearby dangerous structures such as nerves, blood vessels, or other organs.

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