MSK Ultrasound Flashcards
What doe MSK ultrasound evaluate?
Dynamic evaluation of tendons
Is MSK ultrasound more accurate from MRI and CT?
In some cases
What are the composition of tendons?
Bundles of collagen fibres
What does Tendons attach?
Muscle to bone (tuberosities)
What does the tendons facilitate in terms of motion?
Flexion and extension
How is experience is for MSK?
Very
How is the blood supply for tendons?
Poor
What does tendons look like in long axis?
- Linear band of hyperechoic strands
- Fibrillar pattern: interspersed with hypoechoic connective tissue
What does tendons looks like in short axis?
- Hyperechoic finely punctuate foci
- Hypoechoic connective tissue
- Round, oval or flattened shape
Tendon echogenicity is highly dependent on what?
Angle of insonation
What is anisotrophy?
Angles greater than 10 degrees off perpendicular may demonstrate a loss of echogenicity
Anisotropy may be mistaken for what sometimes?
Pathology
In terms MSK the beam must like how in relation to tendons?
Perpendicular
What happens if we have a curved shape of tendon?
Change probe position/ straighten tendon
What does a and be demonstrate?
Patellar tendon in long axis and short axis
What does these two images demonstrate?
Achilles tendon in long axis and short axis
What does synovial sheaths do?
- Wraps around tendon to decrease friction
- Secretes fluid
What is the paratenon/ peritenon sheaths?
Loose connective tissue
What are examples of Paratenon/ peritenon?
Achilles and patellar tendon
What are bursas?
Flattened synovial lined pouch/sac
What does bursas produce?
Synovial fluid
Where are bursas located?
High friction points
What does Bursas look like on u/s?
Hypoechoic flattened structure
How easy is it to identify bursas on U/S?
Difficult
What does these images demonstrate?
Pre-patellar bursas
What does this image demonstrate?
Patellar Synovial sheaths in long and short axis
What does these images demonstrate?
Achilles synovial sheath in long and short axis
What is the sonographic appearance of nerves in long axis?
- Railroad appearance
- Hypoechoic nerve fibres divided by hyperechoic connective tissue
What does nerves look like in short axis?
- Honeycomb pattern
- Circular nerve fibres surrounded by hypoechoic connective tissue
What do Ligaments attach?
Bone to bone
What does ligaments help us do?
Stability and strength
What is the composition of ligaments?
Collagen
What is the sonographic appearance of ligaments?
Similar to tendon but more difficult to visualize
What does this image demonstrate?
Nerve fibres in short and long axis
honeycomb pattern and railroad pattern
Can we assess bone?
Limited
The bone has what type of surface?
Cortical (superficial)
What does this image demonstrate?
ligaments, note how similar to tendons they look like.
What does bone look like sonographically?
Hyperechoic line with strong posterior shadowing
What is cartilage?
Shocker absorbers
Where does hyaline cartilage lie?
Terminal ends of bonds
What does cartilage look like on U/S?
- Hypoechoic
- Well defined
- Smooth
- Non-compressible
What does this image demonstrate?
Cartilage in the knee
What does muscles look like u/s?
- Skeletal striated muscle
- Hypoechoic tissue with hyperechoic fibres
What can muscles do?
Contract and extend
What does this image demonstrate?
Muscles
What type of resolution do we need for the shoulder?
High resolution linear array
How should the patient sit for shoulder examination?
Patient sitting on a rotating stool
The rotator cuff has 4 tendons, what are they?
- Subscapularis
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Teres minor
Label the image
What kind of movement does bicep tendons do?
Flexor and extenders
Where is the bicep tendon located?
- Bicipital groove between the greater and lessor tuberosity
- Anterior to humerus
What is the technique for scanning the biceps tendon? SAX and LAX
- Arm neutral elbow bent at 90 degrees
- SAX: document proximal tendon, check position in groove
- LAX: Document proximally and more distally
Label the image
Label the image
Where does the subscapularis attach?
- From underside of scapula
- Attaches to the lesser tuberosity
How do we scan a subscapularis tendon?
- Arm in a external rotation
- Probe will be transverse on patient, LAX on tendon
- One image at caracoid, one at insertion
- Perform a dynamic assessment
Label the image