Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to produce pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and joints throughout the body. It is used to help diagnose sprains, strains, tears, trapped nerves, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Typically used to help diagnose:
· tendon tears or tendinitis of the rotator cuff in the shoulder, Achilles tendon in the ankle and many other tendons throughout the body.
· muscle tears, masses or fluid collections.
· ligament sprains or tears.
· inflammation or fluid (effusions) within the bursae and joints.
· early changes of rheumatoid arthritis.
· nerve entrapments such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
· benign and malignant soft tissue tumors.
· ganglion cysts.
· hernias.
· foreign bodies in the soft tissues (such as splinters or glass).
· dislocations and dysplasia of the hip in infants.
· fluid in a painful hip joint in children.
· neck muscle abnormalities in infants with torticollis (neck twisting).
· soft tissue masses (lumps/bumps) in children.
