Objectives

This MSK Ultrasound Essentials course covers how to acquire ultrasound views of the lower limb including hip, thigh, knee, calf, ankle & foot to answer the clinical questions:

• Is there a joint or bursal effusion?
• Is the synovial thickening or synovitis?
• Is there tendinopathy or tendinosis?
• Is there nerve entrapment? Is the nerve enlarged?
• Is the tendon intact?
• Is there fracture? Is there degenerative disease?
• Is there a muscular tear?

Expected Learning Outcomes:

• Recognise normal ultrasound anatomy of all four compartments of knee including patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon, semi membranosis, semi tendinosis, gastrocnemius and surrounding structures.
• Recognise normal ultrasound anatomy of the hip and buttock including joints and bony anatomy, major muscles attachment points, trochanteric bursae, gluteus maximus, minimus, medius, major nerves such as femoral and sciatic nerve as well as hamstring muscles and tendons.
• Recognise normal ultrasound anatomy of ankle, covering medial & lateral tendons & ligaments including peroneal tendons, extensor & flexor tendons, achilles tendon, lateral ankle ligament complex and deltoid ligament complex. This will also include ankle nerves such as superficial & deep peroneal nerves, tibial nerve, and sural nerve.
• Recognize normal ultrasound anatomy of calf including major muscle groups and the achilles tendon.
• Recognize normal ultrasound anatomy of foot, covering the joints, bone, ligaments, tendons including web space and fascia.
• Acquire images of hip, thigh, knee, calf, ankle and foot including the use of dynamic techniques.
• Identify the sonographic appearances of abnormalities such as joint effusion, bursal effusion, tendinopathy, tendinosis, ligament, muscle & tendon disruption, joint disruption & degeneration, fracture, nerve disorder and other abnormalities in surrounding structures.
• Recognise the limitations of ultrasound and determine when to on-refer patients for formal scanning or complimentary investigations.