In an ultrasound examination, a transducer both sends the sound waves and receives the echoing waves. When the transducer is pressed against the skin, it directs small pulses of inaudible, high-frequency sound waves into the body. As the sound waves bounce off internal organs, fluids and tissues, the sensitive microphone in the transducer records tiny changes in the sound's pitch and direction. These signature waves are instantly measured and displayed by a computer, which in turn creates a real-time picture on the monitor. One or more frames of the moving pictures are typically captured as still images. Small loops of the moving “real time” images may also be saved.

Benefits

• Most ultrasound scanning is noninvasive (no needles or injections).
• Occasionally, an ultrasound exam may be temporarily uncomfortable, but it is almost never painful.
• Ultrasound is widely available, easy-to-use and less expensive than other imaging methods.
• Ultrasound imaging is extremely safe and does not use any ionizing radiation.
•  Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images.
•  Ultrasound provides real-time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies and fluid aspiration.
• Patients with cardiac pacemakers and certain types of metallic implants or fragments in the body cannot be safely exposed to the strong magnetic field required for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, patients can safely receive ultrasound imaging.
•  Ultrasound is also an excellent alternative to MRI for claustrophobic patients.
• Compared to MRI, ultrasound may provide greater internal detail when assessing soft tissue structures such as tendons and nerves.
• Because ultrasound images are captured in real time, they can show the movement of a soft tissue structure such as a tendon, joint or an extremity.

•      Ultrasound imaging is faster than MRI and does not require the patient to      remain completely still, allowing infants to be imaged without sedation.

•      The hip joints of infants, unlike those of adults, are largely made of                cartilage. Ultrasound is able to clearly see cartilage.

Risks

• For standard diagnostic ultrasound, there are no known harmful effects on humans

• tendon tears, or tendinitis of the rotator cuff in the shoulder, Achilles tendon in the ankle and other tendons throughout the body.
• muscle tears, masses or fluid collections.
• ligament sprains or tears.
• inflammation or fluid (effusions) within the bursae and joints.
• early changes of rheumatoid arthritis.
• nerve entrapments such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
• benign and malignant soft tissue tumors.
• ganglion cysts.
• hernias.
• foreign bodies in the soft tissues (such as splinters or glass).

• dislocations of the hip in infants.
• fluid in a painful hip joint in children.
• neck muscle abnormalities in infants with torticollis (neck twisting).
• soft tissue masses (lumps/bumps) in children.

Not only does Dr. Nashin Manohar utilizes the ultrasound, to diagnose but also for needle guidance during procedures such as intra-articular injections, trigger point injections, etc.

After you are positioned on the examination table, the radiologist or sonographer will apply a  water-based gel to the area of the body being examined. The gel will help eliminate air pockets between the transducer and the skin that can block the sound waves from passing into your body. The transducer is placed on the body and moved back and forth over the area of interest until the desired images are captured.

There is usually no discomfort from pressure as the transducer is pressed against the area being examined. However, if scanning is performed over an area of tenderness, you may feel pressure or minor pain from the transducer.

Once the imaging is complete, the clear ultrasound gel will be wiped off your skin. Any portions that are not wiped off will dry to a powder. The ultrasound gel does not stain or discolor clothing.

You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. You may be asked to remove all clothing, jewelry and asked to put on an examination gown. 

Dr. Manohar, who is specifically trained to supervise and interpret radiology examinations, will analyze the images. He will personally discuss the image findings and discuss what tretments are necessary to treat your condintion.

Follow-up examinations may be necessary, and Dr. Manohar will explain the exact reason why another exam may be requested. Sometimes a follow-up exam is done because a suspicious or questionable findings may need clarification with additional views or special imaging techniques. A follow-up examination may also be necessary so that if any change in a known abnormality may be monitored over time. Follow-up examinations are sometimes the best way to see if treatment is working or if an abnormality is stable over time.