{"id":2140,"date":"2019-09-10T11:58:05","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T16:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/test.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/?p=2140"},"modified":"2019-09-10T13:34:31","modified_gmt":"2019-09-10T18:34:31","slug":"new-paradigms-for-ultrasound-assessing-peripheral-nerves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/2019\/09\/10\/new-paradigms-for-ultrasound-assessing-peripheral-nerves\/","title":{"rendered":"New Paradigms for Ultrasound: Assessing Peripheral Nerves"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW PARADIGMS FOR ULTRASOUND: ASSESSING PERIPHERAL NERVES<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"nerve2\"Pegasus Lectures\u2019 President Frank Miele<\/a> invited me to guest-blog a recap of my presentation at the \u00a02019 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)<\/a> Annual Convention<\/a>.\u00a0 The topic was The Role of Ultrasound in Locating and Assessing Peripheral Nerves<\/em><\/strong>, and this discussion harmonizes well with Frank\u2019s previous posts<\/a> on \u2018New Paradigms for Ultrasound\u2019.<\/p>\n

As Frank has emphasized, there are advances in ultrasound technology that will open entire new fields of specialization for sonographers and ultrasound professionals<\/a> who wish to expand their skillsets <\/a>and earning potential<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While many of the technologies Frank discussed<\/a> are five to ten years away from materializing, the specialty I will review is opening up in the here and now.\u00a0 These are applications of ultrasound technology in the field of musculoskeletal<\/a> evaluation, and more specifically diagnosing pathologies of peripheral nerve structures.<\/p>\n

Long\u00a0 Axis\u00a0 View\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Ulnar\u00a0 Nerve\u00a0 in\u00a0 the\u00a0 Cubital\u00a0 Tunnel<\/p><\/div>\n

Newer applications in ultrasound technology were made possible by the development of lower-cost high-frequency (20+ MHz) transducers over the past 10 years.\u00a0 <\/em>Channeling Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation <\/em><\/a>author, Frank Miele<\/a>\u2026recall from the Wavelength Equation that frequency and wavelength are inversely<\/strong> proportional.\u00a0 So with higher frequency comes shorter wavelength, producing a more precisely targeted and focused beam, and therefore superior spatial resolution.<\/p>\n

\"nerve-scan\"High-frequency transducers are now widely available, and with the introduction of truly portable models that plug into your smartphone or tablet computer<\/a>, ultrasound evaluations now offer a favorable alternative to the more-traditional imaging modality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).<\/p>\n

Without disrespecting the technology and diagnostic capabilities of MRI, here are a few real-world considerations that weigh favorably toward the emergence of ultrasound modalities for neurological studies:<\/p>\n

COST\/AVAILABILITY<\/strong> \u2013 Ranging in price from $250,000 to $1,000,000+<\/a>, MRIs are simply not economical for most non-hospital facilities.\u00a0 In the United States, nearly one half of the approximately 13,000 MRIs are located within hospitals.\u00a0 While the United States has the most units of any country in the world, there are still only 40 MRI units for every 1 million residents<\/a>. Its cost<\/a> as a capital goods asset requires a commensurate exam cost to offset the expense of ownership and operation.\u00a0 Additionally, the relative scarcity of the equipment does not work favorably in terms of price competition.<\/p>\n

\"jackhammer\"PATIENT CARE\/INTERACTION<\/strong> \u2013 I doubt many people will dispute that patients generally dislike the MRI examination experience.\u00a0 It\u2019s a fact of life.\u00a0 Ultrasound studies, by contrast, offer results in real-time, and allow technician\/patient interaction that is superior to any comparable MRI study.\u00a0 Again, with no disrespect, a running MRI unit emits sound waves approaching 90-100 decibels (db), which is roughly equivalent to a power lawn mower, or motorcycle<\/a>\u2026.not exactly a comforting and collaborative atmosphere for sonographer to patient interaction.<\/p>\n

In two weeks, I will follow up with a specific discussion on best practices for conducting a successful nerve imaging study.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"jamie-bie_photo\"Jamie Bie is the Senior Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Specialist at Columbia University\/New York Presbyterian Imaging<\/a>. She was awarded the ARDMS<\/a> Pioneer Musculoskeletal Ultrasound credential in 2012. In addition to holding the RMSKS<\/a> credential, she is also registered in Vascular Technology<\/a>, Abdomen<\/a>, OB\/GYN<\/a>, and Breast<\/a>. Jamie has written departmental protocols and has trained several physicians and sonographers in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jamie Bie is also the author of newly-released Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: A Comprehensive Guide to MSK Imaging and Interventional Techniques<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to MSK Ultrasound. This textbook includes an overview of\u00a0MSK Ultrasound physics, illustrated protocols, anatomy review by section, transducer and ultrasound overlays to clarify positioning and structure recognition, and CheckPoints noted throughout the text, providing critical technical tips.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NEW PARADIGMS FOR ULTRASOUND: ASSESSING PERIPHERAL NERVES Pegasus Lectures\u2019 President Frank Miele invited me to guest-blog a recap of my presentation at the \u00a02019 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) Annual Convention.\u00a0 The topic was The Role of Ultrasound … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16],"tags":[15,11,39,40],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2140"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2140"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2182,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2140\/revisions\/2182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}