title: Knee ultrasound from research to real practice: a systematic literature review of adult knee ultrasound assessment feasibility studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and analyse existing data regarding knee ultrasound (US) feasibility in clinical practice. Material and methods: A systematic literature review was performed using the terms: ("knee") AND ("ultrasound" OR "ultrasonography") AND ("feasibility" OR "pilot" OR "proof of concept"). Feasibility studies regarding knee US or US aided maneuver involving knee joint, published during 2005-2015, were selected and evaluated against a complex framework constructed around mandatory key areas for feasibility studies: acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, adaptation, integration and expansion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifty-nine publications were identified, of which 9 were included in the final analysis: 6 dealt with the development and implementation of novel US scores, while the rest focused on implementing MSUS in clinical practice, evaluating the usefulness of articular cartilage US assessment and the feasibility of sonography for intra-articular knee injections, respectively. Six studies quantified feasibility as time spent for the evaluation, with only two addressing areassuch as acceptability, implementation and practicality, although none of these systematically assessed all feasibility domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knee US feasibility is still poorly addressed; the time required for US assessment is the main area addressed. This information gap should be properly addressed in future works, in order to ensure the right place for this technique.
authors.affiliation: "Sf. Maria" Clinical Hospital, Research Centre on the Pathology and Treatment of Systemic Rheumatic Diseases, Internal Medicine and Rheumatology department "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peltea
authors.affiliation: "Sf. Maria" Clinical Hospital, Research Centre on the Pathology and Treatment of Systemic Rheumatic Diseases, Internal Medicine and Rheumatology department "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. berghea1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berghea
authors.affiliation: "Sf. Maria" Clinical Hospital, Research Centre on the Pathology and Treatment of Systemic Rheumatic Diseases, Internal Medicine and Rheumatology department "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gudu
authors.affiliation: "Sf. Maria" Clinical Hospital, Research Centre on the Pathology and Treatment of Systemic Rheumatic Diseases, Internal Medicine and Rheumatology department "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Ruxandra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ionescu
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015995:Prevalence; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*