Overview  

A musculoskeletal ultrasound scan is a non-invasive, painless but useful way to look at muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues, including lumps, bumps and hernias. It provides a real-time view of how these structures look and move, helping to identify some causes of pain including injury following trauma or just normal wear and tear. 

Why have a musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound scan? 

The commonest reasons for having a MSK ultrasound are pain and lumps. This examination may help your doctor determine the cause of these problems. It may be possible to see conditions such as:

• Joint pain: An MSK scan can be used to investigate the tendons, ligaments and other structures causing pain around joints such as the shoulder or knee. 
• Joint swelling (Effusion): Ultrasound can detect a fluid build-up in a joint, often caused by injury, inflammation, or arthritis.
• Sports injuries: Ultrasound is very useful for diagnosing injuries such as tendon, ligament, or muscle tears.
• Soft tissue assessment: Ultrasound can assess lumps, bumps, and hernias. Often it can identify the nature of the lump or bump and which muscles are affected by the hernia.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is usually a painless procedure that does not require any preparation. However, you may be asked to move into different positions to assess specific muscles and tendons. 

How do I get the results? 

After the examination, the Sonographer will explain the findings and go through your report with you. You will receive two copies of the report, one for you and one for your doctor.

Limitations of ultrasound 

Unfortunately, ultrasound has its limitations and we may not get the best views if you have a high BMI. But it does depend on the area we are looking at. 

Ultrasound can only detect abnormalities that are present at the time of the scan. Abnormalities can develop at any time, and while the Sonographer will look for early changes, they cannot predict the future. If you have concerns about anything, please discuss them with the Sonographer before, during or after the scan.