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The developments in technology have improved access to the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) in different clinical settings. Accordingly, MSUS has been applied to a wide range of musculoskeletal problems including inflammatory and degenerative diseases, sport injuries, and regional pain syndromes both for clinical practice and research. In this report, the authors aimed to globally examine the publications on MSUS among different specialties, countries, and topics. Sixteen reviewers under the umbrella of the European Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography Society Group and the Ultrasound Study Group of International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine have evaluated approximately 15,000 publications on MSUS. The authors believe that the results of this comparative analysis may provide a holistic snapshot with regard to the utility of MSUS, not only for clinicians/academicians but also for the industry. Accordingly, while aiming to further increase their awareness, this article would possibly guide future investments as well. © Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION: Patellar tendon donor site has been previously evaluated in patients with auto-graft bone-tendon-bone (BTB) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using either magnetic resonance imaging or B mode ultrasound. However, donor site patellar tendon strain ratio-reflecting structural features-has not been studied with US elastography. Here, we ascertain real-time elastography properties of patellar tendon donor site and clinical relevance of these properties in patients with auto-graft BTB ACL reconstruction in the postoperative period. METHODS: Patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using BTB autograft were evaluated. Demographic, operative and clinical data (severity of pain, Lysholm Knee score, sit to stand test, packages/year for smoking amount) were noted. Patellar tendons of the operated knees were evaluated by ultrasound (length and thickness) and sonoelastography (strain ratio). The healthy knees of the patients constituted the control group. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (17 M, 1 F; mean age 30.9 ± 7 years) were evaluated. Mean postoperative follow-up period was 22.1 ± 2.6 (range 18-26) months. Patellar tendons were shorter and thicker on the operated side when compared with the contralateral side (both p = 0.001). Patellar tendon strain ratios of the operated side were lower than the contralateral side (harder tendon on operated side). While there was no correlation between strain ratios and clinical variables (age, BMI, postoperative time, severity of pain, Lysholm score, all p values > 0.05), significant negative correlations were detected between strain ratios of proximal, middle and distal thirds of operated side and amount of smoking (p = 0.008, r = -0.607, p = 0.009, r = -0.598, p = 0.023, r = -0.533, respectively). CONCLUSION: Patellar tendons on the operated sides seemed to thicken and shorten with decreased strain ratios at the donor side compared to the healthy side at an average of 2-year follow-up in patients with ACL reconstruction using BTB autograft, and amount of smoking had negative relationship with strain ratio of donor patellar tendon.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate sonoelastographic properties of the distal femoral cartilage in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Demographic characteristics and operative data of 28 patients (27 males, 1 female; mean age 31.7±7.1 years; range 22 to 48 years) with unilateral ACL reconstruction were evaluated. Reconstruction was performed with patellar tendon graft in 22 patients (78.6%) and hamstring tendon graft in six patients (21.4%). Lysholm knee score was used for functional evaluation and chair stand test was used for lower extremity strength. Medial, intercondylar, and lateral distal femoral cartilage thicknesses of operated knees and healthy knees were measured with B-mode ultrasound, while strain ratios were measured with real time sonoelastography. RESULTS: Postoperative mean follow-up duration was 20.4±9.8 months. Mean Lysholm knee and patient satisfaction scores were 88.0±8.5 and 8.2±1.8, respectively. Cartilage thicknesses were similar between operated and healthy knees (all p>0.05). Sonoelastographic strain ratio of medial distal femoral cartilage in operated knees was significantly higher (softer cartilage) (p=0.026). There was a negative correlation between strain ratio difference of medial cartilage of operated knees and lower extremity muscle strength (p=0.009, r= -0.487). CONCLUSION: While there was no difference for cartilage thickness between operated and healthy knees in B-mode ultrasound evaluation, detection of sonoelastographic strain ratio changes in medial distal femoral cartilage on the operated sides may indicate early structural changes following ACL reconstruction. Further studies are required to highlight the clinical effects of this relationship between the changes in cartilage structure and sonoelastography features.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the sonographic and elastographic properties of patellar and Achilles tendons in smoking and nonsmoking otherwise healthy adults. METHODS: We conducted a level 3 case-control analytical study. Smoking and nonsmoking volunteers (>18 years) without musculoskeletal system disorders were included in the study. Demographic characteristics and smoking habits (pack-years) were recorded. Proximal, middle, and distal third thicknesses of the patellar and Achilles tendons were measured by B-mode sonography. Strain ratio measurements of the same regions were measured by real-time ultrasound elastography. RESULTS: A total of 69 participants (57 male and 12 female; mean age ± SD, 35.5 ± 7.8 years) were evaluated in the study. Smoking (n = 35) and nonsmoking (n = 34) groups had no significant differences in terms of age, body mass index, sex, and activity level (all P > .05). Proximal, middle, and distal thirds of the patellar and Achilles tendons were significantly thinner in the smoking group (all P < .05). Furthermore, strain ratio measurements in the same regions were significantly lower in the smoking group (all P< .05). Patellar tendon thicknesses and strain ratios had negative correlations with the smoking amount (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Thickness and strain ratio measurements of patellar and Achilles tendons were reduced (thinner and harder tendons) in smokers. Clinical implications of these morphologic and elastographic changes should be investigated in future studies.

In this protocol, the patient/probe positionings, anatomical drawings and ultrasound images of commonly scanned knee structures are described. This practical guide is prepared (with an international consensus of several expert physiatrists) to serve as a uniform/standard approach especially for beginner sonographers.

In this protocol, the patient/probe positionings, anatomical drawings and ultrasound images of commonly scanned hip structures are described. This practical guide is prepared (with an international consensus of several expert physiatrists) to serve as a uniform/standard approach especially for beginner sonographers.

This article is an eventual consensus of experts from the European Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Study Group (EURO-MUSCULUS) and the Ultrasound Study Group in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (USPRM) pertaining to the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in physical and rehabilitation medicine. Nineteen important reasons (as regards general advantages, specific conditions in physical and rehabilitation medicine, as well as comparisons with other imaging tools) have been highlighted to consolidate the scenario of how/why the probe of ultrasound needs to become the stethoscope, the extended hand, and the pen of physiatrists.

This article is an eventual consensus of experts from the European Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Study Group (EURO-MUSCULUS) and the Ultrasound Study Group in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (USPRM) pertaining to the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in physical and rehabilitation medicine. Nineteen important reasons (as regards general advantages, specific conditions in physical and rehabilitation medicine, as well as comparisons with other imaging tools) have been highlighted to consolidate the scenario of how/why the probe of ultrasound needs to become the stethoscope, the extended hand, and the pen of physiatrists. Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

In this protocol, the patient/probe positionings, anatomical drawings and ultrasound images of commonly scanned ankle/foot structures are described. This practical guide is prepared (with an international consensus of several expert physiatrists) to serve as a uniform/standard approach especially for beginner sonographers.

In this protocol, the patient/probe positionings, anatomical drawings and ultrasound images of commonly scanned elbow structures are described. This practical guide is prepared (with an international consensus of several expert physiatrists) to serve as a uniform/standard approach especially for beginner sonographers.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate femoral cartilage thickness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by using ultrasonography. METHODS Eighty-four patients (55 M, 29 F) with a diagnosis of AS and 84 age-, gender- and body mass index-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients including disease duration, morning stiffness and medications were recorded. The femoral cartilage thicknesses of both knees were measured with a 7-12 MHz linear probe while subjects' knees were held in maximum flexion. Three mid-point measurements were taken from both knees (lateral femoral condyle (LFC), intercondylar area (ICA) and medial femoral condyle (MFC)). RESULTS Concerning both ICA (p < 0.001) and left MFC (p = 0.013), cartilage measurements were significantly thicker in AS patients than control subjects. In a subgroup analysis (anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) users vs anti-TNF naive), cartilage thickness measurements - bilateral ICA (p = 0.000) and left MFC (p = 0.017) - were found to be greater in AS patients under anti-TNF treatment (n = 65) when compared with those of healthy controls. CONCLUSION We imply that AS patients seem to have thicker femoral cartilage, which could be related to anti-TNF treatment.