Musculoskeletal Essentials Course Description:
Musculoskeletal POCUS Essentials is designed for clinicians aiming to enhance their diagnostic capabilities using point-of-care ultrasound. This course offers 10 CME hours with a practical, clinically focused approach to ultrasound evaluation of musculoskeletal conditions, aiding in the assessment of joints, soft tissues, and related structures.
Participants will delve into key anatomical landmarks, probe positioning, and scanning techniques across various musculoskeletal regions—including the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. Emphasis is placed on image acquisition, interpretation, and integrating findings into clinical decision-making.
Through comprehensive modules and guided instruction, learners develop both the theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills necessary to perform musculoskeletal ultrasound effectively in diverse clinical settings.
Pathology overview
Understand general principles of musculoskeletal pathology for POCUS, including muscle tears, tendinopathy, osteoarthritis, and more
Hip and pelvis ultrasound
Assess anterior hip (joint effusion, iliopsoas), lateral hip (greater trochanteric bursa, gluteal tendons), and sacroiliac joint structures to diagnose hip pathology, bursitis, tendon tears, sports hernias, and guide therapeutic injections.
Shoulder
Systematically evaluate anterior, superior, lateral, and posterior shoulder structures including the rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis), long head of biceps tendon, and acromioclavicular joint to diagnose tears, tendinopathy, impingement, and instability.
Hamstring ultrasound
Examine high hamstring and mid-distal hamstring muscle-tendon units to diagnose acute strains, chronic tendinopathy, proximal avulsion injuries, and monitor healing in athletes.
Elbow
Assess the lateral elbow including common extensor tendon, radial collateral ligament, and joint spaces to diagnose lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), tendon tears, joint effusions, and radial head pathology.
Limited Knee Ultrasound
Evaluate anterior knee, lateral knee, and medial knee structures to diagnose tendinopathy, jumper's knee, effusions, ligament injuries, and bursitis. Practice ultrasound-guided knee injections.
Wrist
Examine the volar wrist structures including median nerve and carpal tunnel, along with the first dorsal compartment (De Quervain's) to identify nerve compression, tenosynovitis, tendon tears, and inflammatory conditions.
Posterior lower leg ultrasound
Assess the Achilles tendon in long axis and short axis views, along with gastrocnemius-soleus complex, to diagnose Achilles tendinopathy, partial and complete ruptures, retrocalcaneal bursitis, and gastrocnemius muscle tears (tennis leg).
Hand and fingers
Evaluate flexor tendons, A1 pulleys, metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints, and digital structures to diagnose trigger finger, flexor tenosynovitis, joint effusions, collateral ligament injuries, and small joint arthropathy.
Ankle Ultrasound
Examine medial ankle, lateral ankle, and anterior ankle structures to diagnose ankle sprains, effusion and tendinopathy
Foot Ultrasound
Evaluate the plantar fascia, metatarsal heads, intermetatarsal spaces, and tarsal tunnel to diagnose plantar fasciitis
