Clin Should Elbow.  2019 Mar;22(1):40-45. 10.5397/cise.2019.22.1.40.

Focal Bone Marrow Lesions: A Complication of Ultrasound Diathermy

• Kim SJ
• Kang Y
• Kim DH
• Lim JY
• Park JH
• Oh JH

• KMID: 2441661
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5397/cise.2019.22.1.40

Abstract

Ultrasound diathermy is widely used for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and other soft tissue injuries. Its use as a therapeutic modality is believed to be safe, with very few reported complications. Here, we report two patients who developed focal bone marrow abnormalities after receiving ultrasound diathermy. Both patients' magnetic resonance (MR) evaluations revealed linear subchondral bone lesions of the superolateral humeral head similar to those in osteonecrosis. The patients' symptoms subsequently improved, and available follow-up MR evaluation revealed near complete resolution of bone lesions. These findings suggest that ultrasound diathermy, and its interaction with bone tissue through thermal mechanisms, can cause focal bone marrow abnormalities. Furthermore, the bone marrow abnormalities seem to be transient, resolving upon cessation of ultrasound diathermy, therefore osteonecrosis should be differentiated from this temporal lesion.

Keyword

Bone marrow lesion; Osteonecrosis; Magnetic resonance imaging; Complications; Diathermy

MeSH Terms

Bone and Bones
Bone Marrow*
Diathermy*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Humeral Head
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Osteonecrosis
Soft Tissue Injuries
Ultrasonography*