Complex Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

Complex musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasounds take an in-depth look at the tendons and ligaments that hold the muscles and bones in alignment. Areas examined may include:

• Ankle
• Biceps
• Calf muscle
• Feet
• Finger
• Hamstring
• Hand
• Nerve assessment
• Other MSK muscle/tendon/nerve requests
• Quadriceps
• Wrist

Please note that any type of MSK ultrasound that is referred by a specialist doctor (e.g., sports medicine, orthopedic surgeon, rheumatologist, etc.) will be booked as a complex MSK ultrasound. It’s the preference of these specialists to have reports created by radiologists with the MSK specialty.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY EXAM?

• You can expect to be at the clinic between 30-60 minutes, depending on your procedure(s) and barring any unforeseen delays.
• Take all prescribed medications as directed.
• Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to allow enough time to check in with reception.
• Bring photo identification, your provincial health card, and your requisition.
• Wear comfortable clothes.
• Please do not bring children who require supervision.
• Some MSK exams require an X-ray of the area of concern prior to the ultrasound. This allows the radiologist to correlate the soft tissue findings of the ultrasound with the bones of the joint being examined.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING MY EXAM?

• You may be asked to change into a gown for certain exams.
• Your technologist (sonographer) will ask you to lower or arrange your clothing so that the area of concern is exposed to apply gel and scan the area.
• A warm, non-scented, hypo-allergenic ultrasound gel will be applied to the area being scanned.
• The sonographer will move the transducer (probe) around the area in question to obtain images of the area of concern.
• You will be asked a few questions about the reason for your visit to assist the radiologist in providing a comprehensive report to your physician.
• You may be asked to lie on your side, sit, or stand to get a complete set of images from different angles.
• You may experience mild to moderate pressure while the sonographer takes the images.
• The radiologist will review the images.
• The radiologist may come into the scan room after your exam to speak to you about your results. You will then be free to leave.

WHEN WILL I GET MY RESULTS?

We do our best to have our radiologists interpret the information and forward the results to your doctor by the next business day.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

This exam is covered under the Alberta and Saskatchewan Health Care Plans.