Patient Positioning
Patient seated in front of the examiner, hand palm up resting on a examination table.
Probe Positioning
Place the transducer on a longitudinal planes over the joints and tendons of interest. Do not use any pressure – especially while looking for effusion or using doppler mode. Use dynamic scanning to check the movement of the tendons during flexion / extension or against resistance to check the pulleys.
mcj: metacarpophalangeal joint
e: effusion
Note: Effusion 1° (not pathologic) in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis
pij: proximal interphalangeal joint
e: effusion
Note: Effusion 2° of the pij in a patient with rheumatic arthritis
pij: proximal interphalangeal joint
dij: distal interphalangeal joint
e: effusion
Note: Synovial effusion 3° in a patient with rheumatic arthritis