Wilford Hall hosts multi-service ultrasound course

  • Published
  • By Sue Campbell
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Providers from across the U.S. attended a joint-service ultrasound course at Wilford Hall Medical Center here April 14 and 15.

The course's formal title, "Current Concepts in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound 2011," was offered to 45 Air Force, Army and Navy medical personnel.

"Similar courses have been hosted by civilian institutions," said Maj. (Dr.) Scot Campbell, chief of musculoskeletal radiology at Wilford Hall and the course director. "But, this is the first time this course has ever been offered at a Department of Defense medical facility."

Ultrasound can be a quick, readily available and accurate technique for musculoskeletal evaluation, especially for many common joint and tendon injuries. Ultrasound, and ultrasound-guided needle intervention in the musculoskeletal system, can be particularly useful in a deployed environment, where MRI and x-ray guidance are much less available. Like any other imaging modality, there is a learning curve to understand the imaging appearance of anatomic structures and how that normal appearance alters with pathology.

"Radiologists are trained extensively in using ultrasound for diagnosis or needle guidance during their residency training. Additionally, they are trained in disease processes of the musculoskeletal system." Dr. Campbell said. "Our goal was to facilitate an increased application of ultrasound to musculoskeletal diagnosis and intervention on the part of our radiology colleagues. The course reviewed anatomy, diagnosis, and interventional procedures using ultrasound throughout the joints and extremities."

The course included briefings, lectures and labs by experts from Wilford Hall Medical Center; the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.; Travis Air Force Base, Calif.; and Michigan State University.

"I think this training is beneficial for patient diagnosis and for treatment," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Elliot Pinero, a musculoskeletal radiologist from the Air Force Academy. "It's relatively new but it's growing. It facilitates evaluation that before could only be done with an MRI. The course was a good opportunity and will help improve patient care."