CT-scan:
It's an exam involving x-rays. Its use in musculoskeletal investigation is mainly for bone structures. Its sensibility is higher than X-Rays. It's less useful for muscles, tendons and ligaments. Radiation doses are higher than X-rays but is still very safe.

 

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a sub-speciality of general ultrasound that allows for evaluation, without risks or irradiation, of tendons, ligaments, muscles and sometimes, of nerves and articulations. Ultrasound is a dynamic exam which is an advantage because we can evaluate in real time, with different movements, the impact of different structures on the pain process. It can replace or be complementary to other imaging techniques such as MRI, CT-scan or X-rays. Thanks to our top of the line equipment and to the experimented radiologists on site, doing their own exam, ultrasound sensibility is excellent.
Ultrasound is also used for therapeutic purposes such as cortisone infiltrations under guidance which allows a precise infiltration to the exact site.
Tenotomy (see section on tenotomy) is also a technique performed under ultrasound guidance.

 

MRI:
It's a radiation-free exam that requires a longer period of time. It's extremely sensitive for soft tissue and bone pathology (traumatic, degenerative, tumor). Sometimes, joint contrast injection is necessary to better evaluate internal structure of the articulation. Rarely, intravenous injection can be necessary. There are a few contraindications to this exam.

 

When there is a musculoskeletal problem, your doctor can prescribe an infiltration under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. These procedures allow the radiologist to inject a fluid (cortisone, viscosupplement, contrast) in a joint, bursa or around tendons. The radiologic guidance allows the radiologist to be sure of the exact position of the needle.