Ultrasonography.  2015 Jul;34(3):195-205. 10.14366/usg.15006.

Postoperative ultrasonography of the musculoskeletal system

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon, Korea. ka1000@cku.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Radiology, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

Ultrasonography of the postoperative musculoskeletal system plays an important role in the Epub ahead of print accurate diagnosis of abnormal lesions in the bone and soft tissues. Ultrasonography is a fast and reliable method with no harmful irradiation for the evaluation of postoperative musculoskeletal complications. In particular, it is not affected by the excessive metal artifacts that appear on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Another benefit of ultrasonography is its capability to dynamically assess the pathologic movement in joints, muscles, or tendons. This article discusses the frequent applications of musculoskeletal ultrasonography in various postoperative situations including those involving the soft tissues around the metal hardware, arthroplasty, postoperative tendons, recurrent soft tissue tumors, bone unions, and amputation surgery.

Keyword

Musculoskeletal system; Postoperative care; Soft tissue injuries; Soft tissue infections; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Amputation
Arthroplasty
Artifacts
Diagnosis
Joints
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Muscles
Musculoskeletal System*
Postoperative Care
Soft Tissue Infections
Soft Tissue Injuries
Tendons
Ultrasonography*

Cited by  1 articles

Triaging deep vein thrombosis using ultrasonography after lower-extremity orthopedic surgery: analysis of a single-center experience
Hee Joong Lim, Ji Young Jeon, Yu Mi Jeong, Beom Gu Lee, Jae-Ang Sim, Sheen-Woo Lee
Ultrasonography. 2021;40(3):442-448.    doi: 10.14366/usg.20171.


Reference

References

1. Jacobson JA. Musculoskeletal sonography and MR imaging: a role for both imaging methods. Radiol Clin North Am. 1999; 37:713–735.
2. Jacobson JA, Lax MJ. Musculoskeletal sonography of the postoperative orthopedic patient. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2002; 6:67–77.
3. Guillin R, Botchu R, Bianchi S. Sonography of orthopedic hardware impingement of the extremities. J Ultrasound Med. 2012; 31:1457–1463.
4. Sofka CM, Adler RS. Original report. Sonographic evaluation of shoulder arthroplasty. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003; 180:1117–1120.
5. van Holsbeeck MT, Eyler WR, Sherman LS, Lombardi TJ, Mezger E, Verner JJ, et al. Detection of infection in loosened hip prostheses: efficacy of sonography. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1994; 163:381–384.
6. Craig JG. Ultrasound of the postoperative hip. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2013; 17:49–55.
7. Miller TT. Sonography of joint replacements. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2006; 10:79–85.
8. Westhoff B, Wild A, Werner A, Schneider T, Kahl V, Krauspe R. The value of ultrasound after shoulder arthroplasty. Skeletal Radiol. 2002; 31:695–701.
9. Mack LA, Nyberg DA, Matsen FR 3rd, Kilcoyne RF, Harvey D. Sonography of the postoperative shoulder. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1988; 150:1089–1093.
10. Crass JR, Craig EV, Feinberg SB. Sonography of the postoperative rotator cuff. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1986; 146:561–564.
11. Shih KS, Huang YP, Wang TG, Wu CS, Jiang CC. Sonographic appearance of surgically repaired Achilles tendons. Taiwan J Phys Med Rehabil. 2008; 36:23–30.
12. Rupp S, Tempelhof S, Fritsch E. Ultrasound of the Achilles tendon after surgical repair: morphology and function. Br J Radiol. 1995; 68:454–458.
13. Adler RS. Postoperative rotator cuff. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2013; 17:12–19.
14. Movin T, Gad A, Reinholt Fp, Rolf C. Tendon pathology in longstanding achillodynia. Biopsy findings in 40 patients. Acta Orthop Scand. 1997; 68:170–175.
15. Pino G, Conzi GF, Murolo C, Schenone F, Magliani L, Imperiale A, et al. Sonographic evaluation of local recurrences of soft tissue sarcomas. J Ultrasound Med. 1993; 12:23–26.
16. Arya S, Nagarkatti DG, Dudhat SB, Nadkarni KS, Joshi MS, Shinde SR. Soft tissue sarcomas: ultrasonographic evaluation of local recurrences. Clin Radiol. 2000; 55:193–197.
17. Jacobson JA. Musculoskeletal ultrasound and MRI: which do I choose? Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2005; 9:135–149.
18. Choi H, Varma DG, Fornage BD, Kim EE, Johnston DA. Softtissue sarcoma: MR imaging vs sonography for detection of local recurrence after surgery. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1991; 157:353–358.
19. Craig JG, Jacobson JA, Moed BR. Ultrasound of fracture and bone healing. Radiol Clin North Am. 1999; 37:737–751.
20. Young JW, Kostrubiak IS, Resnik CS, Paley D. Sonographic evaluation of bone production at the distraction site in Ilizarov limb-lengthening procedures. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1990; 154:125–128.
21. Provost N, Bonaldi VM, Sarazin L, Cho KH, Chhem RK. Amputation stump neuroma: ultrasound features. J Clin Ultrasound. 1997; 25:85–89.
22. Ernberg LA, Adler RS, Lane J. Ultrasound in the detection and treatment of a painful stump neuroma. Skeletal Radiol. 2003; 32:306–309.
Full Text Links
  • USG
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2025 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr