Member May 2026: Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in the Pediatric Population-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This session introduced musculoskeletal ultrasound in the pediatric population, focusing on why it is especially useful in children and how it differs from adult scanning. The presenters reviewed housekeeping notes, then outlined the goals of the talk: understanding ultrasound’s benefits, limitations, and best scanning techniques, as well as recognizing normal and abnormal pediatric sonoanatomy.<br /><br />Key advantages highlighted included better visualization of cartilaginous structures, growth plates, and unossified epiphyses; ability to compare sides in real time; and usefulness when history and physical exam do not match. Ultrasound was also presented as a valuable tool for nonverbal patients, those with spasticity, acute trauma, and follow-up counseling with families. Important pitfalls included normal vascularity in growth plates and cartilage that can mimic pathology.<br /><br />The speakers reviewed normal pediatric anatomy of tendons, ligaments, bone, cartilage, physes, and apophyses, emphasizing that children are not “small adults.” They stressed use of contralateral comparison, sonopalpation, dynamic maneuvers, consistent positioning, and repeat scans when needed.<br /><br />Pathology discussions included Salter-Harris and physeal injuries, apophyseal traction injuries and avulsions, elbow and shoulder growth-plate problems, gymnast’s wrist, little league shoulder, Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sever disease, SCFE, transient synovitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, hemophilic arthropathy, inflammatory arthritis, and rare entities like osteoid osteoma, neuroma, heterotopic ossification, and soft tissue masses.<br /><br />The Q&A covered clinic workflow, common ultrasound-guided procedures, and practical barriers to building ultrasound expertise. Presenters encouraged regular scanning, efficient workflow integration, and continued practice.

Keywords

musculoskeletal ultrasound

pediatric ultrasound

sonoanatomy

growth plates

cartilaginous structures

contralateral comparison

physeal injuries

apophyseal avulsion

Salter-Harris fractures

transient synovitis

septic arthritis

osteomyelitis