SonoSite shoulder course offers multidisciplinary teaching for a multidisciplinary audience

July 20, 2011 - PRLog -- Experts from the fields of orthopaedic surgery, physiotherapy, sports medicine and radiology, with extensive experience in shoulder ultrasound, were in attendance at SonoSite’s successful Introductory Shoulder Course on 4th May. Participants from a range of different medical specialities were introduced to shoulder ultrasound scanning, gaining an overview of the technology and its application to shoulder disorders and injury. The one day course was designed to introduce participants with little or no experience of ultrasound to the benefits of using the technique in their particular discipline. Through a series of lectures delegates acquired an understanding of the basics of ultrasound and its clinical relevance, the role of office ultrasound and ultrasound-guided injections, followed by demonstrations and hands-on practical sessions using a variety of SonoSite ultrasound systems.

Professor Lennard Funk, shoulder surgeon, Wrightington, and course coordinator, explained: “Ultrasound is a very safe, non-invasive technique, which hand-carried ultrasound systems have made easily accessible. By the end of the day most participants were comfortable with the technique and quite capable of doing an ultrasound shoulder scan. They realised that ultrasound can enhance their practice and improve the quality of service offered, by enabling them to give patients an immediate diagnosis and implement a management plan there and then. For surgeons, ultrasound allows a better appreciation of the pathology, which they can correlate with what they find in theatre.”

John Leddy, physiotherapist and sonographer, London, added: “The course is ideal for physiotherapists who are just beginning to use ultrasound or are interested in performing ultrasound of the shoulder. It provides the opportunity to see whether ultrasound has a place in their practice,   

and working with people who have a special interest in shoulders and can point them in the right direction is a great starting point for learning how to use the technique.”

A successful day was summed up by one of the participants, Nashat Siddiqui, SpR at London’s Royal Free Hospital, who said: “Excellent course. Ultrasound used to be very daunting and confusing, but this has helped me understand what the images are and given me confidence to think about integrating it into my practice.”

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