Ultrasounds

What are the benefits of MSK ultrasound?

MSK ultrasound provides a time and cost-efficient modality with diagnostic power comparable to MRIs. It’s portable and boasts a high safety profile, which allows it to be easily implemented as an in-office tool. Dr. Panero may use it for needle guidance as well as for diagnosis.

Are there diagnostic advantages to using MSK Ultrasound?

MSK ultrasound offers same day, in-office results as to whether you have a tear or soft tissue injury. You’ll experience real-time evaluations. The doctor is also able to compare an affected side to healthier parts of your body to allow for a more comprehensive evaluation. You, as a patient, will find ultrasound  more comfortable than claustrophobic MRI machines. Ultrasound does not come with the contraindications for people with pacemakers, metal implants, or obesity.

What can MSK ultrasound evaluate?

Dr. Panero uses MSK ultrasound to diagnose, determine treatment, and implement treatment of a number of conditions. It can identify:

• Soft tissue disorders: Tears of muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Inflammation: Plantar fasciitis, tenosynovitis, and effusions
• Masses: Hematoma, cyst, solid tumors, and calcific tendonitis
• Nerve disorders: Morton’s neuroma, neuropathies, and trauma
• Joint disorders: Erosions on bones, loose bodies, pannus, and loose bodies

How can ultrasound improve procedural outcomes?

MSK ultrasound provides an accurate way to administer guided injections so you get treatment at the right place. It helps the doctor avoid nerves, vessels, and other sensitive tissue. Without ultrasound, research shows that even expert injectors can miss their mark over 30% of the time. Using ultrasound for diagnosis also avoids the excess radiation that might be incurred with X-ray diagnoses.

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Position Paper on MSK ultrasound reviewed 124 studies, concluding that ultrasound-guided joint injections are more accurate and efficient than landmark guided injections.