IADMS Miami 2000   [back to the Category]

The of Ultrasound Imaging to Assist in the Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Foot and Ankle In   [read the french version]

Author :   Jennifer M. Gamboa, M.P.T. and Dr. Peter E. Lavine, M.D.

Authors: Jennifer M. Gamboa, M.P.T., Orthopaedic and Performing Arts Physical Therapy. Arlington, VA, and Peter E. Lavine, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

The differential diagnosis of chronic foot and ankle injuries in dancers can be difficult to ascertain. MRI findings are often unremarkable and/or inconclusive. The diagnostic challenge of these injuries is that they are typically symptomatic only during the execution of dance-specific skills and remain asymptomatic in static positions. Ultrasound imaging allows us to observe the physiologic movement of tendons, muscles, and joints during functional active range of motion, and allows a rapid comparison between the involved and uninvolved extremity. The localized nature of foot and ankle pathologies makes them particularly well suited for ultrasound examination because of the superficial nature of the structures and the limited amount of intervening adipose tissue. This motion sensitive technology serves as a powerful tool in the differential diagnosis of recalcitrant foot and ankle injuries either instead of or as an adjunct to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In treating elite dancers with chronic foot and ankle injuries that failed to respond to appropriate conservative measures we found that the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound dramatically altered our treatment decisions. In a number of patients who required surgical intervention the accuracy and usefulness of ultrasound imaging confirmed our clinical impression, and aided in surgical planning.

This is the abstract of a paper presented at the Tenth Annual Meeting of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, held 27-29 October 2000 in Miami, Florida, USA. All rights are reserved by the individual author(s).