Orthopaedic ultrasound at OpenMed Warsaw and Płock

Orthopaedic ultrasound is a safe and non-invasive imaging examination used in the diagnostics of the musculoskeletal system. It makes it possible to assess the condition of joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and other soft tissues in real time. If you experience knee, shoulder or wrist pain or have suffered a sports injury, we invite you to OpenMed in Warsaw and OpenMed in Płock. Our specialists perform orthopaedic ultrasound during the consultation, which makes it possible to quickly assess the problem and plan further treatment.

The examination uses ultrasonic waves that reflect off tissues and create an image visible on the monitor of the ultrasound device. Unlike X-ray or computed tomography, ultrasonography does not use ionising radiation, so it can be performed multiple times and also in children or pregnant women. Orthopaedic ultrasound works particularly well in the assessment of soft tissues and post-traumatic changes.

When is orthopaedic ultrasound worth doing?

Orthopaedic ultrasound is performed both in acute injuries and in chronic pain complaints. Our doctors at OpenMed use the examination to assess overload changes, inflammatory conditions and damage to joint-stabilising structures.

The most common indications for the examination include:

joint pain and swelling after an injury or overload,
suspected damage to ligaments, tendons or muscles,
limited joint mobility,
monitoring of orthopaedic treatment or rehabilitation.

Orthopaedic ultrasound can be performed within different joints and body areas - most often the knee, shoulder, ankle, wrist, elbow or hip. The examination allows the presence of fluid in the joint, the condition of ligaments, tendons and inflammatory changes in periarticular tissues to be assessed.

What does orthopaedic ultrasound look like?

The examination does not require special preparation. The patient exposes the examined area, and the doctor applies gel to the skin to facilitate the conduction of ultrasound. Then the head of the device is applied to the selected area and the image is assessed on the monitor in real time.

One of the greatest advantages of orthopaedic ultrasound is the possibility of performing a dynamic examination, i.e. during movement. Thanks to this, our specialists can more accurately assess the work of tendons, ligaments and muscles and detect abnormalities that are not always visible in static examinations. The examination usually takes from a dozen or so to about 30 minutes and is completely painless.

What can be detected in an orthopaedic ultrasound examination?

Orthopaedic ultrasound is widely used in the diagnostics of injuries and overload conditions. The examination can help detect damage to ligaments, muscle and tendon tears, bursitis, joint effusions or degenerative changes. In the case of the knee joint, structures such as the ligamentous apparatus, tendons or the presence of free intra-articular bodies can also be assessed.

At OpenMed, the result of the examination is discussed immediately during the visit. Our doctors explain the meaning of visible changes and present further recommendations - from rehabilitation and conservative treatment to the need for in-depth diagnostics or orthopaedic consultation.