Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Musculoskeletal ultrasound is commonly used to image Soft Tissues of Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, Hand, Hip, Knee, Ankle and Foot. It can provide high resolution images of Muscles, Tendons and Ligaments throughout the body.
Ultrasound can be used to investigate acute Musculoskeletal injuries as well as causes of chronic Musculoskeletal pain.
What to bring
• A Referral from your doctor or specialist is required for this examination, please ensure you bring this to your appointment.
• Medicare card
• Previous imaging report not performed at Southwest Ultrasound
Preparation
There is no preparation required for any area imaged with Musculoskeletal ultrasound.
What to expect during my procedure
Once you arrive at Southwest Ultrasound the Sonographer performing the examination may begin by discussing your medical history. Ultrasound gel will then be applied to the area to be examined. This allows for good contact between the skin and the ultrasound transducer. An ultrasound transducer will then be used to scan the relevant anatomy.
For each body area there are a routine series of images that will be taken. The Sonographer may ask you to move the area being scanned to observe the motion of the anatomy. There may be times when the Sonographer scans areas that are not of concern to look for sources of 'referred pain' (pain felt in one area that originates from another) and to build a complete understanding of your musculoskeletal condition.
Risks and side effects
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images, there are no known side effects from having a diagnostic ultrasound scan performed for medical imaging purposes.
The Sonographer applies techniques to ensure that your scan is a safe procedure. For this reason, your scan should only be performed by an accredited Sonographer, or trained medical practitioner, and a scan should only be performed when clinically indicated.
Who will perform and report my examination
At Southwest Ultrasound your ultrasound examination will be carried out by a Sonographer (a technologist trained in ultrasound imaging) and accredited by the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR). Your images will be reviewed and reported by a radiologist (a medical doctor specializing in the interpretation of medical images).
How do I receive my results?
Results will be made available to your referring doctor within 24 – 48 hours. In an emergency situation, you referring doctor will be contacted.
