One of the modern methods of instrumental diagnostics is ultrasound examination of the joints. This method was developed relatively recently, since it was previously believed that ultrasound was only possible for examining cavities and certain organs of the human body.
Nevertheless, joint ultrasound makes it possible to obtain a visual image when examining muscles, tendons, cartilage and ligaments – that is, the soft tissues of the joints.
This examination is prescribed by a doctor to make an accurate diagnosis in rheumatic conditions and joint injuries. It helps establish whether inflammatory processes are present and determine the condition of the joint's soft tissues.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Method
This instrumental examination can be used to examine all the joints of the human body. However, the temporomandibular joint is difficult to access for ultrasound, so it is not diagnosed using this method. Joint ultrasound is also an excellent method for establishing a differential diagnosis when one of a pair of joints is damaged.
For example, if the right elbow joint is injured, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound of the left, healthy elbow joint to compare the affected joint structures with healthy ones. This comparison is also important for correctly assessing the extent of damage in rheumatic diseases.
Diagnosing Knee Joint Diseases
Joint ultrasound is an indispensable diagnostic method for various injuries and disorders of the knee joints. It can detect ligament tears, various hemorrhages, thickening of the ligaments and changes in their structure. As for using this examination to determine the condition of the menisci, it is usually of little diagnostic value and does not give a complete picture. An injury of the knee joint such as a cruciate ligament tear is also not always diagnosed with this method.
Diagnosing Rheumatic Diseases
This method is indicated to clarify the diagnosis in rheumatic diseases. Joint ultrasound clearly visualizes the joint cavity and the capsule surrounding the joint. If fluid has accumulated in them as a result of inflammation, ultrasound will show it. The more fluid there is, the stronger the inflammation.
The examination can also show how long ago the inflammatory process began – this is determined by the thickness of the accumulated fluid. Without such an examination, it is difficult for a doctor to prescribe therapy and draw up a treatment plan. In some cases, a nerve block with injections around the inflamed joint is needed; in others, the cavity must be punctured and the accumulated fluid drained; in others still, medication must be injected directly into the joint. Once the examination results are obtained, the doctor can make an accurate decision about therapy.
How Is Joint Ultrasound Different from an X-ray?
Patients sometimes ask why they need an ultrasound if they already have X-ray results. The point is that an X-ray cannot visualize the condition of the ligaments, cartilage and connective tissues of the joint. Yet it is precisely these soft tissues of the joints that cause the most severe pain in various rheumatic diseases, such as:
- arthritis
- bursitis
- ligamentitis
- tendinitis
If a patient has flat feet, the doctor may prescribe an ultrasound of the knee joints to prevent the development of osteoarthritis in them. This type of arthrosis is very dangerous, as in its advanced form it can lead to disability, so it is better to detect it early.
The doctor may also prescribe an ultrasound examination of the knee joints even if the patient came with complaints of pain in other joints. This is done to detect rheumatic processes and to clarify the differential diagnosis.
Knee osteoarthritis is a common disease of older people, affecting one in ten people over the age of 50. In four cases out of a hundred, this disease leads to disability, so detecting it early is extremely important for keeping a person active and healthy for many years.
The results of the examination depend directly on the equipment used and on the qualifications of the doctor who will interpret the resulting image. The better the equipment, the clearer the image. But even the best equipment can be useless if the doctor does not have enough skill to interpret the image. Therefore, joint ultrasound should only be done in clinics with good diagnostic facilities and highly qualified doctors.
MEDXPERT Diagnostic Center (Ultrasound), Osh, 2022
