Ultrasound has been used by contemporary medicine specialists as a means of contemporary medicine in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal and rheumatological problems. 

MR (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is undoubtedly the most effective diagnostic method for diagnosing disorders that currently involve the musculoskeletal system. However, due to some limitations of MR, each patient can not benefit from it. Especially those who have closed-field phobia, those who have metal parts in their body, patients who use heart pills can not enter MR. In some cases, some pathologies can be avoided with MR. Due to the fact that the cost of MR is somewhat expensive, it is not everywhere, and the results can not be obtained immediately, the prevalence of ultrasonography is increasing especially in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal diseases. 

What are the advantages of ultrasound? 

The great advantage of ultrasonography is that the patient can be diagnosed at the outpatient clinic. This method, which is called "one-step treatment", also allows the patient to undergo examination, diagnosis and treatment from the doctor's examination for the first time. We also describe the treatment because, after diagnosing the disease with ultrasound, we can also treat the needle with ultrasound again at the same time. 

Dynamic imaging with ultrasound; One of the most important advantages of ultrasonography over MR is to allow dynamic imaging. For example, when performing shoulder ultrasound, we can obtain different images from different positions of the arm. It is an important advantage that imaging by the clinician is done live by the doctor. 

Ultrasonography shows better. Thanks to the color doppler feature, joint and soft tissue inflammation can be distinguished very well by ultrasonography. At the onset of joint rheumatism, where blood tests may be normal, we can see and early detect joint inflammation with ultrasound. 

It does not contain ultrasound radiation. It is very useful to diagnose ultrasonographic joint and muscle aches in patients who are at risk for X-ray exposure due to radiation (eg in pregnancy). 

Ultrasound is the guide feature in interventional therapies. Ultrasonically constructed spine, joint and nerve injections are much more successful and safe. It is always more advantageous to inject on the screen. 

What are the disadvantages of ultrasound?

The most important drawback of ultrasound is that it requires a lot of experience. It takes a lifetime to become experienced by learning to use the device in a short time like 1 hour. '' Ultrasound is like chess. Learning takes 1 hour and development takes a lifetime "(Dr. Ahmet Sümen). 

The ultrasound does not show your bone. We can make use of ultrasound on the surface of bone tissue. For example, bone growths, bone fractures, post-fracture boiling, etc. as.  Ultrasound does not show the inside of your bone. So we should choose MR or CT instead of ultrasound if we suspect a question about the inside of the bone such as avascular necrosis. 

Ultrasound is insufficient when spinal problems are diagnosed. X-ray, MR or tomography is more suitable. It is possible to utilize the ultrasonic navigation feature in vertebral interventional treatments (eg caudal epidural injection in ultrasound guidance, facet joint injection etc.). 

In summary, muscle and joint ultrasound is a method that requires a great deal of effort and effort, and is a scientific and modern method that makes both the patient and the doctor smile when practiced in experienced and knowledgeable hands. 

At our clinic, we occasionally organize courses to improve the knowledge and skills of other doctors about ultrasound. In many research and education hospitals, our assistants and specialist colleagues visit our clinic as observers.