Malliaropoulos Nikos, Daoukas Stavros
Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Sports Clinic, Rheumatology Department, Mile End Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
Ultrasound. 2024 Sep 20:1742271X241280911. doi: 10.1177/1742271X241280911.
Musculoskeletal disorders are a significant global health concern, affecting over 1.71 billion individuals worldwide, with a considerable impact on quality of life and economic burden due to healthcare costs and productivity losses. In the United Kingdom, approximately one-third of the population suffers from musculoskeletal disorders, underscoring the need for effective diagnostic and management strategies. Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging emerges as a preferred diagnostic modality, offering a balance between technical capabilities and cost-effectiveness, owing to its non-invasive nature, portability and lack of radiation exposure. However, the operator-dependent nature of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging necessitates specialised training for medical and healthcare professionals. The integration of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging into traditional clinical examinations, known as ultrasound imaging-assisted clinical examination (UIACE), enhances traditional diagnostic processes by providing immediate visual feedback, facilitating a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of musculoskeletal conditions. This approach not only refines diagnosis in cases with ambiguous symptoms or overlapping signs but also significantly improves patient reassurance and management strategies. In addition, incorporating musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging into medical education through ultrasound imaging-assisted clinical examination offers students a dynamic, interactive learning experience, fostering a deeper understanding of clinical anatomy and examination skills. By advocating for its systematic inclusion in the undergraduate medical curriculum, the study highlights the potential to enhance the competence and confidence of future professionals in utilising ultrasound imaging, ultimately improving patient outcomes in musculoskeletal care.
肌肉骨骼疾病是全球重大的健康问题，影响着全球超过17.1亿人，因其导致的医疗费用和生产力损失，对生活质量和经济负担产生了相当大的影响。在英国，约三分之一的人口患有肌肉骨骼疾病，这凸显了有效诊断和管理策略的必要性。肌肉骨骼超声成像作为一种首选的诊断方式应运而生，由于其无创性、便携性和无辐射暴露，在技术能力和成本效益之间取得了平衡。然而，肌肉骨骼超声成像依赖操作者的特性，要求医学和医疗保健专业人员接受专门培训。将肌肉骨骼超声成像整合到传统临床检查中，即超声成像辅助临床检查（UIACE），通过提供即时视觉反馈，增强了传统诊断过程，有助于对肌肉骨骼状况进行更准确、全面的评估。这种方法不仅能在症状模糊或体征重叠的病例中优化诊断，还能显著提高患者的安心程度和管理策略。此外，通过超声成像辅助临床检查将肌肉骨骼超声成像纳入医学教育，为学生提供了动态、互动的学习体验，促进了对临床解剖学和检查技能的更深入理解。通过倡导将其系统纳入本科医学课程，该研究强调了增强未来专业人员使用超声成像的能力和信心的潜力，最终改善肌肉骨骼护理中的患者治疗效果。
