Diagnostic Ultrasound

If you are suffering with muscle, tendon or joint pain, then an ultrasound scan can diagnose your injury.

Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to produce pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and joints throughout the body. This type of scanning is typically used to assist in the diagnosis of injuries such as tendon tears, tears of the rotator cuff in the shoulder or Achilles tendon in the ankle.

Other circumstances include abnormalities of the muscles, such as tears, bleeding or other fluid collections within the muscles or damage to the major joints. Ultrasound imaging can also be used as a guide for steroid injections into joints. Ultrasound is safe, non-invasive, and does not use ionizing radiation.

What is Ultrasound Imaging of the Musculoskeletal System?

Ultrasound is safe and painless. It produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel is placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the body.

Ultrasound images are typically used to help diagnose:

•    Tendon tears or tendinopathy 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. (Note masses will be referred to consultant)
•    Ligament sprains or tears.
•    Inflammation or fluid (effusions) within the joint.
•    Nerve entrapment's such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

What will I experience during and after the procedure?

Most ultrasound exams are painless, fast and easily tolerated, and are completed within 15 to 30 minutes after a full consultation. When the exam is complete, the practitioner will review images and prepare a report and discuss findings with you.

What are the benefits vs. risks?

•    MSK Ultrasound provides an accurate diagnosis to implement the most effective treatment plan for your recovery
•    MSK Ultrasound is non-invasive.
•    MKS Ultrasound is easy-to-use and less expensive than most other imaging methods.
•    Ultrasound imaging is extremely safe and does not use radiation.
•    Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images.
•    Ultrasound provides real-time imaging
•    Ultrasound is also an excellent alternative to MRI for claustrophobic patients.
•    Ultrasound images are captured in real time, they can show the movement of a soft tissue structure such as a tendon, joint or an extremity.

What are the limitations of Ultrasound Imaging of the Musculoskeletal System?

Ultrasound has difficulty penetrating bone and, therefore, can only see the outer surface of bony structures and not what lies within.For visualizing internal structure of bones or certain joints, other imaging modalities such as MRI are typically used.

There are also limitations to the depth that sound waves can penetrate; therefore, deeper structures in larger patients may not be seen easily.

Our specialist musculoskeletal sonographer Gareth Davies performs all of our ultrasound services at Swansea Health Solutions
 
Please note we do NOT scan:
•    Hip joints 
•    lumps and bumps
•    the abdominal region
•    the spine
•    hernias