US of locomotion system

US examination of locomotion system

During the recent decades, US examination of locomotion system is widely used in practice of orthopedists–traumatologists, neuropathologists and other experts. It is predetermined by reasonable information capacity and accurateness of the method.

Ultrasound (or sonographic) examination is a modern progressive method to obtain images of muscles, ligaments, cartilage surfaces, articular capsules, contours of bones.

Main abilities of locomotion system examination by US in adults

The ultrasound examination gives a possibility to diagnose all main changes in locomotion system:

1. Trauma injuries.
2. Inflammation processes.
3. Degenerative-dystrophic changes.
4. Tumor-like processes.

Ultrasound examination is high-efficiency for diagnostics of trauma injuries of soft tissues of extremities (post-traumatic hematomas, haemarthrosis, ruptures and dilacerationsof muscles, tendons and ligaments, meniscus dilacerations etc.).

Ultrasound diagnostics is high-sensitivity methods for early diagnostics of inflammation processes of joint tissues and those around of joint: synoviites, bursitis, arthritis, and arthritis.

Ultrasound diagnostics is applied for diagnosing diseases and damages of joint:

• shoulder (damage of shoulder rotary cuff, damage of ligament complex, adhesive capsulitis etc.);
• elbow joint (medial and lateral epicondylites,damage to collateral ligaments integrity, bursitis etc.);
• wrist joint (synovitis, inflammable processes (tenosynovitis) and trauma injuries of fingers and palm flexor and extensor tendons;
• hip joint (synovitis, deforming arthritis, necrosis of femoral head);
• knee joint (damages to ligament complex, synovitis, changes in articular cartilage, signs of arthritis);
• ankle joint (damages of ankle joint’s tendon complex, achilodynia and disruption of Achilles tendon, under-suture fasciitis etc.);
• Diagnostics of soft tissue volume formations (fibromas, lypomasetc.) and bone and cartilage tumor-like ones and benign tumors (exostoses, osteochonrdoma, cysts).

Ultrasoundmethodic ensures visualization of changes and damages to nervous stems of fibers (tunnel syndromes of middle and elbow nerve).

Ultrasound methodic gives possibility to control the process of treatment and results thereof; inter alia none callus formation after fracture, regeneration of bone tissue, namely in external fixation devices without use of excessive X-ray radiation; as well as to control recovery of muscles and tendons.

The ultrasound method allows control while doing orthopedic manipulations and injections, to control accurate and precise injection of medicines into the required area.

Diagnostics of diseases and damages to locomotion system is a complicated task, requiring participation of experienced professionals who are prominent in different technologies and excellently know anatomy of locomotion system and peculiarities of diagnosing of diseases.

Advantages of ultrasound (sonography) examination are related to extreme information capacitypredetermined by the possibility:

• to obtain the images of soft tissues and cartilage structures, unacceptable while X-ray examination;
• detailed presentation of small images and accuracy of the method;
• use of the functional examination: while movements, loading, functional probes in real-time regime that is impossible for CT, MRI, and in case if X-ray requires additional images;
• i.e. additional radiation);
• absence of X-ray radiation;
• possibility to compare pathologic area and to consider individual anatomic peculiarities of each patient;
• possibility of frequent control and observation in dynamics;
• possible examination of several anatomic areas during one and the same attendance of a doctor;
• economic proficiency of the examination (compared top CT, MRI);
• possibility to examine soft tissues of the patients with contradictions against MRI (due to obesity, claustrophobia, metal fixators, fragments in their bodies).