Point-of-care ultrasound in the diagnosis of upper extremity fracture-dislocation. A pictorial essay.

Abstract

Patients commonly present with orthopedic injuries to the emergency department (ED). Although radiographs are the standard of care for evaulating these injuries, point-of-care ultrasound is being increasingly used to make the diagnosis. This modality can be useful in patients who are too clinically unstable to leave the acute care ED and in nonverbal pediatric or geriatric patients who are unable to isolate their injuries. Published case series and prospective studies highlight the emergency physician’s (EP) ability to detect fractures with point-of-care ultrasound with good accuracy. The American College of Emergency Physicians ultrasound guidelines advocate fracture identification as within the EP’s scope of practice. This pictorial essay reviews how to use point-of-care ultrasound to diagnose fractures and dislocations of the upper extremity.