What should you know about point of care ultrasound devices?

A handheld probe sends sound waves into the body and displays moving images on a connected screen. In orthopedics, this can show tendons, muscles, fluid-filled areas and parts of a joint during movement. The scan does not use ionising radiation, but the image quality depends on the body area, the device and the operator’s skill. An ultrasound image is one part of an assessment; it may not answer every question or replace an X-ray, MRI or other test.

Wear clothing that allows easy access to the area being examined. Tell the clinician where the pain is, which movements trigger it and whether you have had an injury or procedure. During the scan, you may be asked to move the joint so tissues can be viewed dynamically. If ultrasound is being used to guide an injection, ask what medicine is planned, why it is recommended and what aftercare will involve. Learn more about the technology through Point-of-Care Ultrasound and about one procedure that may use imaging through PRP Injection.

Seek urgent medical help for a suddenly deformed limb, loss of feeling or strength, a cold or unusually pale extremity, or severe pain after a significant injury. Prompt assessment is also appropriate for a hot, swollen joint with fever or rapidly spreading redness. An ultrasound appointment should not delay emergency care when these warning signs are present.

Ask which structure the scan is intended to assess, whether the examination will include movement, what the result can and cannot show, and whether another test is needed. If a procedure is planned, ask how imaging will guide it and which symptoms should prompt a call afterward.