Comparative studies of ultrasonography in orthopaedics

Abstract

In this study ultrasonographic images of different musculoskeletal parts of human body have been examined to see whether they can be used for orthopaedic applications. In some of the examinations, comparisons of the ultrasonographic images with X-Ray films have also been performed. Due to the wide difference between the characteristic impedances of soft tissue and bone, it is very difficult to obtain a clear bone image; only an echogen band and behind it an acoustic shadow can be obtained with ultrasonography. As the results of the 47 examinations on the patients which have been performed in the Orthopaedics and Traumatology, and Radiology Departments of the Istanbul Medical Faculty with the help of the high frequency transducers, some results are obtained. Ultrasonography may reveal components of cartilage which may be obscure in some X-Ray films. Moreover, it can be used to study bone metastasis. Being a safe technique, ultrasonography may be used in "real-time" mode on moving joint parts like shoulder, hip, knee, wrist, ankle and elbow, to obtain valuable diagnostic information. It is shown that ultrasound may be used as an adjunct to radiography in the diagnosis of lesions of bone. The impermeability of bone tissue to ultrasound may be used to analyze the effects of bony lesions on adjacent soft tissue. This approach could make it possible to diagnose bony destruction, inflammation, and new bone formation. It is demonstrated that, in the diagnosis of these kind of pathological changed bone-related parts, ultrason is a excellent adjunct modality to radiography.