The use of ultrasound in the practice of hand & wrist surgery

Since the 2010s, ultrasound imaging has emerged as an important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in visualise soft tissue structures in real-time, allowing dynamic assessment of movement. This is particularly useful in hand and wrist surgery, where many target structures are superficial. 

Although the reliability of ultrasound is dependent on the skill and interpretation of the surgeon, it has become an indispensable tool for the diagnosis of various hand diseases. Ultrasound allows detailed visualise the exact location of needles and injections in real time has brought significant advances in treatment. For example, ultrasound-guided injections have proven highly effective in the treatment of PIP joint contractures secondary to flexor tendon tendinopathy. 

In the future, ultrasound-guided procedures such as tendon release or percutaneous ultrasound tendonotomy (PUT) have great potential. However, ensuring the safety of these procedures is of paramount importance. To this end, it is essential to accurately delineate the peripheral nerves using high-resolution ultrasound images. 

This presentation will outline our approach to the use of ultrasound in hand and wrist surgery, focusing on the application of ultrasound in both diagnostic and interventional procedures.