Ultrasound-Guided Musculoskeletal Procedures

Musculoskeletal procedures are commonly performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes by a variety of physician specialists. These procedures are traditionally performed via a landmark approach and have variable success rates. As point-of-care ultrasound has become more available, physicians are using the technology to increase the success of the procedure. By visualizing the target of interest, the clinician can guide the procedure while taking into account anatomic variability, thus increasing success rates. The use of ultrasound to facilitate the procedures requires minimal additional training and can be applied by those with basic knowledge of point-of-care ultrasound. In this chapter, we discuss common musculoskeletal procedures where the use of ultrasound has increased success rates. We cover common procedures performed in a variety of outpatient and inpatient settings, such as intraosseous access, foreign body removal, hematoma blocks, fracture reduction and arthrocentesis, as well as common procedures done in an office setting, such as joint injections and bursal aspirations.