title: Role of ultrasound in musculoskeletal infections.
abstract: Ultrasound is able to play a key role in the management of musculoskeletal soft tissue infections. It is an easily accessible imaging modality that can be used immediately after plain radiographs have been obtained. Quick diagnosis is essential in the clinical setting of musculoskeletal infection because delay can lead to significant morbidity. In addition to its diagnostic capabilities, US offers a safe, real-time, and convenient technique to perform immediately a guided-needle aspiration of any suspicious fluid collection. US provides the most efficient way to document quickly an infection of the musculoskeletal soft tissues and to identify the offending micro-organism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, H pital Saint-Luc, Québec, Canada. etienne.cardinal@videotron.ca
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cardinal
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bureau
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aubin
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chhem
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography