2023 Workshop Handout Bundle-Basic US of the Lower Limb Nerves (Dr. Strakowski)

Basic US of the Lower Limb Nerves (Dr. Strakowski)

Pdf Summary

The document is a detailed guide on the use of Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound in diagnosing and evaluating pathologies related to tendons, ligaments, joints, muscles, and nerves, authored by Dr. Jeffrey Strakowski and Dr. John Norbury. It explains the advantages of MSK Ultrasound, including excellent spatial resolution, lower cost compared to MRI, no radiation risk, ease of use, and real-time dynamic evaluation. Limitations include an inability to fully assess internal joint derangements and operator dependence.<br /><br />The document provides practical tips for getting started with MSK Ultrasound, including starting with deeper settings, ensuring patient and operator comfort, imaging structures in both short and long axes, and correlating findings with other diagnostic methods. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing sonographic patterns in tissues, such as hypoechoic (dark), hyperechoic (bright), and anechoic (black) appearances, alongside the concept of anisotropy, which affects signal reception based on the angle of the transducer.<br /><br />There is a focus on common tendon pathologies such as tendon ruptures and tendinosis, discouraging the use of the term "tendinitis" as most tendon disorders are degenerative rather than inflammatory. The term "tendinopathy" is suggested when the nature of the disorder is unknown. Tendinopathies show characteristics of enlargement, hypoechogenecity, loss of fibrillar architecture, and increased Doppler signal. Tendon tears are identified by features like atrophy and sharp demarcations between tendon and anechoic space.<br /><br />The document also includes practical checklists for upper and lower limb imaging, detailing specific structures and positions for optimal ultrasound examination of areas like the shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle.<br /><br />References are provided to authoritative guidelines and manuals for further reading, reinforcing the educational value of the document in musculoskeletal ultrasound practice.

Keywords

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Tendon Pathologies

MSK Ultrasound Advantages

Real-time Dynamic Evaluation

Sonographic Patterns

Tendinopathy

Ultrasound Imaging Tips

Upper and Lower Limb Imaging

Anisotropy

Hypoechoic Hyperechoic Anechoic