Nerve Ultrasound
Learn More About Common Pain Conditions, Their Origins, and Mechanisms
Imaging of Nerves
Visualizing nerve structures is challenging. While larger nerves, such as nerve roots and proximal nerves, can be well visualized, especially smaller nerves within tissues, known as peripheral nerves, can be better imaged using ultrasound. Nerve ultrasound, also known as neurosonography or nerve sonography, offers several advantages over other imaging techniques. It provides higher resolution imaging, the ability to visualize even small nerves, and sometimes allows for dynamic sonography, which is crucial for diagnosing and planning the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries.
Visualization of Nerve Injuries
Nerve injuries can result from various causes, including accidents, surgical procedures, or nerve compression syndromes. Nerve ultrasound helps document the exact location and extent of the injury and assess the severity of the lesion. It can also clearly delineate other factors such as ganglia or scar tissue, which is important for solution-oriented treatment planning.
Peripheral Nerve Blocks
An important aspect is the ability to perform targeted injections under ultrasound guidance. This is significant for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Diagnostic infiltrations help identify pain mechanisms, while therapeutic injections, such as cryoneurolysis or peripheral nerve stimulation, can be used for pain relief or control.
Additional Benefits
Ultrasound examinations are quick and uncomplicated compared to other imaging techniques. They have no side effects, making them particularly suitable for follow-up examinations to monitor treatment progress and make necessary adjustments.
Overall, high-resolution nerve ultrasound provides an important complement to other diagnostic procedures, enabling precise diagnosis and treatment of nerve pain.
