General Aspects of US-Guided Musculoskeletal Procedures

Ultrasonography (US) is a quick and noninvasive imaging modality that allows for the precise visualization of most soft tissue components of the musculoskeletal system. Providing real-time imaging, this modality also enables accurate guidance during interventional procedures, thus reducing to minimum the risks of complications. As US is considered a relatively operator-dependent modality, a strict scanning technique is mandatory to obtain the best outcome possible. If clinical knowledge is the basic requirement for any diagnostic or therapeutic process, then US-guided interventional procedures analogously require thorough knowledge of the equipment being used. Also good technical skills are needed in order to extract the maximum amount of information that can be obtained with the available equipment, while avoiding the numerous pitfalls and artifacts of this imaging modality.