Musculoskeletal ultrasound: present situation and prospects for the future

Abstract

With the rapid improvement of ultrasound images, musculoskeletal ultrasonography has become an important imaging modality in addition to plain radiography, CT, and MRI. It is useful for the assessment of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, ligament, and peripheral nerve pathology. The utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound is not only suited for diagnosis in the clinic but also for preventive medicine in the field. As ultrasound technology rapidly advances, it opens new fields for the assessment of musculoskeletal disorders. Three-dimensional reconstructed imaging made possible effective presentation and preoperative simulation of arthroscopic surgery. Elastography, which represents the compressibility of soft tissue, is used for the quantitative assessment of the material properties related to the mechanism of musculoskeletal disorders. Progress in this technology has been seen in Japan, but its use is not as widespread as in foreign countries. Proactive efforts will be necessary with respect to education and activities to raise awareness.