DIAGNOSTIC MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND SCAN:
Successful treatment outcomes are based upon findings, which provide an accurate diagnosis of your injury in the first place.
Without this, relevant treatment modalities/referral pathways cannot be well-indicated and your injury/condition may not be treated according to its needs.
Diagnostic ultrasound scans provide an immediate visualisation of the target joint/soft tissue areas under question. Using high frequency sound waves (unable to be detected by the human ear), carried out in real-time (with no harmful effects), this form of scan is a safe, effective tool, providing immediate results!
With an extensive knowledge of anatomy/physiology, combined with her sonography skills, Sarah Morriss, is trained to interpret these images/explain any pathologies shown.
At Sprint Injury Clinic & Diagnostic Ultrasound, Sarah believes patient education is a very important part of your ultrasound scan. Knowing what has potentially gone wrong in the musculoskeletal system, helps you (the patient) to understand exactly what is required next to get you out of pain/dysfunction in the safest, quickest possible time.
She will talk you through any pathologies shown during the live scan and answer any questions you may have along the way, so you are well-informed.
The results of your diagnostic ultrasound scan will be typed up in a formal report (for your records/your referring medical practitioner), usually within 2-5 working days.
WHAT JOINT AREAS CAN BE SCANNED?
Sarah is a fully qualified MSK Sonographer, who gained her qualifications under the AECC in Bournemouth. Her professional training means she adheres to ‘SAFE’ ultrasound guidelines as set by the BMUS at all times, and follows set protocols for each joint area under examination. These joint areas include:
UPPER LIMB – SHOULDER, ELBOW, WRIST, HAND, FINGERS/THUMB.
LOWER LIMB – HIP. KNEE, ANKLE, FOOT, TOES.
Some patients are referred to the clinic with specific queries to help diagnose/confirm or deny a specific injury within a particular area/tendon/ligament etc. Others have no previous information or idea as to what may/may not be causing their pain, in which case, a broader area of structures may need to be examined.
COMMON CONDITIONS/STRUCTURES ACCESSIBLE USING DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND:
SHOULDER: rotator cuff complex, inc: long-head biceps tendon, subscapularis tendon, supraspinatus tendon, infraspinatus/teres minor tendons, bursae, A/C joint, ligaments, posterior labrum, muscle tissues, head and shaft of humerus, subcutaneous areas.
ELBOW: tennis elbow (common extensor tendon); golfer’s elbow (common flexor tendon); forearm tendons, olecranon bursa, ulnar nerve problems, triceps tendon, distal biceps tendon, medial and lateral ligaments, anterior elbow joint line.
WRIST/HAND: carpal tunnel syndrome, tunnel of Guyon syndrome, wrist tendon extensor compartments, scapho-lunate joint/ligament problems, thumb/finger joints, Dupuytrens contracture.
HIP: greater trochanter bursitis, gluteal tendon injuries, ITB syndrome, psoas tendon tears/inflammation, hamstring tendons, anterior glenoid labral tears.
KNEE: quad tendon, patellar tendon, Hoffa’s fat pad, supra and infra-patellar bursae, medial and lateral patellar retinaculii, medial meniscus, medial collateral ligament, medial knee tendons inc pes.ans tendons, lateral meniscus, lateral collateral ligament, ITB insertion, popliteal space – Baker’s cyst, medial head of gastrocnemius/semi-membranosus/semi-tendinosus tendons.
FOOT/ANKLE: achilles tendon, lateral ligaments – ATFL/CFL/PTFL/AITFL, peroneal tendons, medial ankle ligament deltoid complex, tibialis posterior/FDL/FHL tendons, dorsiflexor tendons inc. tibialis anterior, EHL, EDL, tibio-talar joint margin, talo-navicular joint area, plantarfasciitis, heel spurs, Hagland’s deformity, Morton’s neuroma.