Ultrasound examination of the extremities

    Ultrasound, or US, is one of radiology examination that using high frequency sound wave (more than 20.000 MHz), in order to describe the condition of human organs. Because of using sound wave and not X -ray, US has no radiation hazard for the patients or doctors.

        Most people knew that US was applied to evaluate fetal condition in pregnant women, or for checking internal organs such as the liver, kidney, spleen, urinary bladder, etc. But together with the development of the US technology, this examination can be applied in human extremities as well.

        Ultrasound of the extremities  can be applied on the upper (shoulder until hand), or lower extremity (hip until foot). This examination especially performed to check the superficial located soft tissue structure, such as tendons, muscles, and ligaments.  And how about deep-located soft tissue structure? Can US  evaluate them accurately? This examination has some limitations. It is not recommended for deep-located anatomical soft tissue structures. Usually the deep-located soft tissue structures are near the bone, and the bone is not a good medium for the sound wave. The bones may prevent the wound wave reaches the tendon or ligaments which located close to them. Ultrasound often use to evaluate rheumatic disease, joint inflammation or joint effusion, muscle/ tendon/ ligament tear, or swelling and tumors of the upper and lower extremities.

        This examination is not requiring special preparation such as fasting or fulfilled the urinary bladder, and can be done anytime without worry about the radiation hazard. During this examination, patients are positioned (might be sitting down or lying on),  according to adjust the area being examined. The radiologist will apply some jelly on the patient skin, and then continues with doing 'scanning' thoroughly to the discomfort or painful extremity.  The radiologist may sometime ask the patient to move their finger or joint, to confirm about the abnormal findings of anatomical structures. And now, US examination of the extremities can be performed in many health centres that provides musculoskeletal US equipment.