'Musculoskeletal Ultrasound better for bones, joints problems'

Medical experts today said High Frequency Ultrasound can be used as a better diagnostic tool for investigating bone and joint problems which are not detected by other existing tests like computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound, a high frequency ultrasound, can give accurate diagnosis and can be done on pregnant women, children and elderly people, Dr Nidhi Bhatnagar, a specialist radiologist, said here at a press conference organised by Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Group, an association of radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons.
Dr Dhananjay Gupta, a joint replacement surgeon and secretary Delhi Orthopedic Association, said MSK Ultrasound is a cheaper and less time consuming technique and effective even on patients who have implants and prosthesis.

"It is an effective complimentary dynamic multi-planar modality to other existing cross-sectional modalities and has its firm advantages and applications in the evaluation of MSK pathologies. It becomes difficult to conduct MRI on patients who have implants and prosthesis inside their body and cardiac patients with stents and pacemakers. MSK Ultrasound is the only alternative available for diagnosis in such patients," said Gupta.
The experts said the facility is available in many hospitals but is not recommended due to less awareness about its modalities.
"Children have soft bones which don't break but bend with an injury. This bend may not be appreciated on an MRI but can be easily diagnosed with an MSK Ultrasound with less time, money and effort," he said.

It also recommended for identifying tissues tumours, soft tissue injuries, in presence of foreign bodies especially non-metallic ones like wooden splinters or thorns which may less easily appreciated with other modalities, Gupta added.