A Guide to Ultrasound of the Shoulder, Part 2: The Diagnostic Evaluation

Ultrasound is becoming an increasingly accessible modality for its easy and accurate evaluation of shoulder pathology. In Part 1 of our series (Am J Orthop. 2016;45(3):176-182), we showed how musculoskeletal ultrasound can be properly coded and reimbursed and can be as effective in evaluating the shoulder as magnetic resonance imaging, yet more economical. With more physicians beginning to incorporate this technology into their practice, we describe the physics of ultrasound and our methods for evaluating the shoulder with ultrasound. In the coming year, new certifications are emerging that may be required to perform and bill for these services. Staying abreast with the current guidelines and protocols being introduced by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography will be essential.