Knee ultrasound

Ultrasound is a non-invasive test, more precisely a medical diagnostic method. The ultrasound image is also called a sonogram. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images or videos of internal organs or other soft tissues, such as blood vessels, in real time. Ultrasound enables healthcare professionals to “see” details of soft tissues inside your body without making any incisions. Unlike X-rays, ultrasound does not use radiation. Although most people associate ultrasound with pregnancy, healthcare professionals use ultrasound for various situations and to examine several different parts of your body’s interior.

Knee Ultrasound Indications

Knee ultrasound provides high-resolution imaging of superficial knee anatomy while allowing dynamic assessment of certain tendons and ligaments, though it has limitations in visualizing cruciate ligaments and the entire meniscus.

Knee injuries, common in athletes from falls, impacts, or overuse, include anterior cruciate ligament tears, meniscus damage, muscle strains, and tendinopathy, causing significant pain and mobility loss even in non-athletes; ultrasound aids rapid, accurate diagnosis for effective treatment planning and return to activity.

Treatment and Guidance Applications

Ultrasound-guided injections, such as autologous blood (ABI) or platelet-rich plasma (PRP), enhance precision and safety for targeted delivery to accelerate natural healing processes.

Cartilage and Joint Assessment

Ultrasound evaluates cartilage damage in osteoarthritis patients, detecting thinning or loss, with signs like blurred margins, reduced transparency, and increased echogenicity indicating structural changes for early diagnosis and therapy monitoring.

Lesion Differentiation and Rheumatology

Ultrasound distinguishes cystic from solid masses based on size, shape, location, and echogenicity but cannot differentiate benign from malignant without biopsy; it effectively diagnoses and monitors rheumatoid arthritis and soft tissue issues, despite limitations for menisci and bone lesions, playing a key role in experienced hands.