Article

OBJECTIVE: To document the musculoskeletal ultrasonography experience in a
physiatry clinic for 1 yr and to find out whether its use decreased time, cost,
and radiation exposure with regard to musculoskeletal imaging. DESIGN: All
patients who underwent musculoskeletal ultrasonography examination (n = 309) in
our physiatry department during the whole year of 2007 were enrolled. The same
physiatrist, experienced in musculoskeletal ultrasonography, performed all of the
evaluations by using 5-10 MHz and 8-16 MHz linear probes (Diasus Dynamic Imaging
Ltd., Scotland, UK). At the end of the year, each patient was retrospectively
considered on an individual basis, and the answers to the following three
questions were recorded in case he/she had not been evaluated by musculoskeletal
ultrasonography: (1) How long would the patient have waited (i.e., for further
radiologic appointments)? (2) What would the extra cost have been? (3) What would
the radiation exposure have been? Cumulative numbers were calculated for the
whole year concerning time, cost, and radiation dose. RESULTS: According to the
calculations, the total waiting period was estimated as 7620 days if
musculoskeletal ultrasonography had not been used for imaging. Similarly, the
total cost and the radiation dose were estimated to be euro8128 ($16,256 US) and
20 Sievert (2000 cGy), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal ultrasonography
provides a significant amount of gain regarding time and cost in physiatry
clinics. We call the attention of physiatrists to this issue and advocate that a
standardized international approach to musculoskeletal ultrasonography training
and assessment is definitely awaited.

Langue : ANGLAIS