Diagnostic Ultrasound Melbourne

Diagnostic ultrasound can more accurately diagnose your foot injury

At Melbourne Podiatrists & Orthotics we are always looking at investing the latest technology to help our patients, so our podiatrists now offer diagnostic ultrasound at our Melbourne podiatry clinic. Diagnostic ultrasound helps our podiatrists to more accurately diagnose common musculoskeletal injuries in the foot and leads to more successful treatment outcomes.

Our podiatrists use the state-of- the-art SonoSite Edge II Ultrasound System and are thoroughly trained in podiatric use of ultrasound through Zedu ultrasound training solutions. Due to the high costs involved with quality point of care ultrasound systems Melbourne Podiatrists & Orthotics is one of the few podiatry clinics in Melbourne lucky enough to have one.

What is diagnostic ultrasound?

Diagnostic ultrasound (also known as sonography) is an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. It helps our podiatrists see structures inside your foot such as tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves and some superficial bone structure. In podiatry diagnostic ultrasound can help diagnose sprains, strains, tears, trapped nerves, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions affecting the foot.

How does diagnostic ultrasound work?

Diagnostic ultrasound uses a small probe called a transducer. Ultrasound gel is placed directly on the part of the foot that is to be examined and the transducer is then applied. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the foot. The transducer probe collects the sounds waves that bounce back to create an image which can then be viewed in real-time via a computer.

Advantages of diagnostic ultrasound in podiatry

Diagnostic ultrasound has enormous advantages in podiatry practice including:

Diagnostic ultrasound at Melbourne Podiatrists & Orthotics

At Melbourne Podiatrists & Orthotics diagnostic ultrasound is a simple scanning procedure that takes approximately 15-20 minutes. The scan, is performed within a dedicated 30 minute consultation, with immediate results, allowing treatment to commence straight away.

Introducing the Sonosite Edge II Ultrasound System

Our podiatrists use the SonoSite Edge II Ultrasound System. This portable ultrasound system offers you an enhanced imaging experience through industry-first transducer innovations like DirectClear and Armored Cable Technology. SonoSite are world leaders in ultrasound sytsems and their systems are known for their durability, reliability and ease of use.

Foot conditions we can diagnose with diagnostic ultrasound

At our Melbourne podiatry clinic our podiatrists use diagnostic ultrasound to help diagnose the following foot conditions:

NB. If our podiatrists feel that your foot injury is out of the scope of our ultrasound experience they will advise referral to a specialist radiologist for a more thorough musculoskeletal ultrasound scan.

Benefits of ultrasound in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and plantar heel pain

One of the main reasons our podiatry clinic invested in a diagnostic ultrasound system was to help aid diagnosis of plantar heel pain. This is one of the most common conditions podiatrists treat and it can often be complex to diagnose with many differential diagnoses.

A common mistake for medical practitioners is to assume all cases of plantar heel pain are caused by plantar fasciitis. Often there are other causes and in complex cases, multiple causes. Some common other causes of plantar heel pain include: plantar fascia tears, nerve entrapment, heel fat pad atrophy and heel bone stress.

Diagnostic ultrasound helps measure plantar fascia strain

Using diagnostic ultrasound our podiatrists can check for plantar fasica tears as well as measure plantar fascia thickness and heel pad thickness. In cases of plantar fascittis (excess strain of the plantar fascia) research has shown that the symptomatic plantar fascia usually measures over 4 mm in thickness.

With ultrasound our Melbourne podiatrists can also compare the symptomatic heel and plantar fascia thickness to the asymptomatic side, which also helps provide a clearer diagnostic picture. Absence of plantar fascia thickening (less than 4 mm) on ultrasound generally suggests that another factor is likely causing the heel pain.

Correct diagnosis is vital for successful heel pain treatment

Diagnostic ultrasound helps to correctly diagnose the cause of plantar heel pain which is vital for successful treatment. If custom orthotics are required the correct diagnosis also helps formulate the prescription.

For example if a plantar fascia tear is diagnosed then the injury requires support and rest. If the cause is plantar fasciitis then often support and stretching is indicated. Other causes may require footwear changes and orthotics with a specific prescription. For example heel pad atrophy benefits from custom orthotics with a deep heel cup and more cushioned footwear.

Overall since implementing diagnostic ultrasound into our clinic it has lead to a more pinpoint diagnosis of plantar heel pain, leading to greater treatment success.

Why choose Melbourne Podiatrists & Orthotics for diagnostic ultrasound?

There are good reasons to choose Melbourne Podiatrists & Orthotics for a diagnositc foot ultrasound scan over traditional radiology places. This inlcudes:

FAQ

Could your feet benefit from a diagnostic ultrasound scan?