[Focused sonography in orthopedic emergencies]

Focused sonography of the musculoskeletal system in the emergency room should be done for time-effective and symptom-oriented detection of suspected findings. Analogous to other point-of-care ultrasound in emergency medicine, it is by definition not a complete ultrasound examination of the respective organ (e.g., shoulder, elbow). It allows detection of important findings (luxation, effusion, fracture or rupture) with good to excellent diagnostic accuracy. Afterwards computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or complete sonographic examination (according to the guidelines of the working group Bewegungsorgane der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin, which are identical to those of the working group Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie) should be added as clinically required. Sonography of the musculoskeletal system in the emergency room can be performed on the lying or sitting patient, except when examining the shoulder, in which there is a difference. The interventional procedures are safe, useful and time saving.