Muscles are among the soft tissues one of the best adapted to ultrasound examination. In fact, it was the first imaging available for the evaluation of muscle disease. The availability, low cost, and ease of examination makes ultrasound superior to MRI for follow-up of lesions and searching for healing problems such as as fibrosis, cystic haematomas, or myositis ossificans. When dealing with fresh traumatic muscle lesions, the main goal of ultrasound is to assess the presence of a muscle tear or not. Haematoma is the key sign of a muscle tear. The ideal time for the examination is between 2 and 48 h after the muscle trauma. Before 2 h, the haematoma is still in formation. After 48 h, the haematoma can be spread outside of the muscle. After healing, ultrasound can depict some complications such as a cystic lesion or myositis ossificans. Muscle atrophy, inflammation, avulsion and tumours are also good indications for ultrasound.
In summary, exciting developments are expanding the applications of US in the MSK field, offering the advantages of real-time performance, high tissue resolution and relative speed at a reasonable cost.
Parametric imaging of DVP improves diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced US in the differentiation between malignant and benign FLLs; it also provides excellent interobserver agreement.
Acromioclavicular (AC) sprains can be graded in 3 to 6 different types according to Tossy or Rockwell, respectively. In mild sprains (Tossy and Rockwell I), movements in the AC joint are minimal, because the coraco-clavicular ligaments are intact. In these patients, stress radiography is usually normal, and sonographic examination at rest can be normal as well, showing minimal or no displacement between the 2 extremities of the bones. We present a simple dynamic maneuver to enhance the diagnosis of these mild sprains known as the cross-arm maneuver, in which the hand is placed on the opposite shoulder. The dynamic sonographic examination during this maneuver clearly shows abnormal movements in the clavicle's extremity, which "falls down" to the acromion in the cross-arm position and is raised and pulled from the acromion at rest. The maneuver is very easy to perform and may be useful when a mild AC joint sprain is suspected.
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