What is an ultrasound?

Ultrasound examination, also known as sonography, is one of the most commonly used imaging techniques in medicine. It allows for a quick, painless, and radiation-free examination of various parts of the body and provides important information for diagnosis.

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What is an ultrasound?

Ultrasound plays an important role in our orthopedics and surgery department. It allows for the precise examination of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, bursae, and other soft tissue structures in particular.

The examination provides real-time images. This allows doctors to immediately identify changes, injuries, or inflammation and plan the appropriate treatment. Ultrasound is a proven diagnostic method, particularly for acute symptoms or for monitoring progress.

How does an ultrasound work?

During an ultrasound examination, high-frequency sound waves are transmitted into the body. These waves are reflected to varying degrees by different types of tissue. A transducer receives the returning signals, and a computer uses them to generate the corresponding images.

Since only sound waves are used, the examination does not involve any X-ray radiation at all. It is therefore particularly gentle and can be performed multiple times without any problems if necessary.

Modern ultrasound machines provide high-resolution images and enable precise assessment of many diseases and injuries. A particular advantage is that the movements of muscles, tendons, or joints can be assessed directly during the examination.

Which parts of the body can be examined?

Ultrasound is used to diagnose a wide range of orthopedic and surgical conditions. The following are examined particularly frequently:

Shoulder joint
Elbow
Wrist
Hip joint
Knee joint
Ankle joint
Muscles and tendons
Ligaments
Bursae

In addition, ultrasound can also be used to assess fluid accumulation, inflammation, or superficial tissue changes.

When is an ultrasound recommended?

An ultrasound exam is often used as the first step in diagnostic imaging. It is particularly well-suited for the rapid evaluation of many symptoms and can often be performed right in the doctor’s office. Typical reasons for an ultrasound exam include:

Joint pain
Muscle injuries
Tendon problems
Ligament injuries
Swelling
Bursitis
Suspected joint effusions
Follow-up visits after injuries or treatments
Assistance with injections or punctures

The appropriate test for each individual case always depends on your symptoms and the medical issue at hand. If necessary, the ultrasound can be supplemented with other imaging techniques, such as an MRI or X-ray.

More about the examination process

Many patients want to know how an ultrasound exam is performed, how long it takes, and whether any preparation is necessary.

You can find detailed information on this topic on our page “How does an ultrasound work?”

How does an ultrasound work?

What is an ultrasound?