Ultrasound Imaging and Guidance in Common Wrist/Hand Pathologies

Ultrasound is presented as a key tool for diagnosis and guided treatment of common wrist and hand disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, de Quervain tenosynovitis, thumb CMC osteoarthritis, and radiocarpal arthritis. It helps visualize superficial nerves, tendons, pulleys, retinacula, and joints in real time, detect pathology, and guide injections more safely and accurately than blind techniques.

Interesting highlights:

• Real-time guidance helps avoid nerves, vessels, and anatomic variants.

• Dynamic ultrasound is especially useful in trigger finger because it shows abnormal tendon motion during movement.

• In de Quervain disease, ultrasound can identify septa and separate tendon compartments, which is important for accurate injection.

• In carpal tunnel syndrome, ultrasound can assess median nerve swelling and guide hydrodissection.

Who is this article most useful for?
MSK ultrasound clinicians, PM&R doctors, sports medicine physicians, radiologists, and trainees working with wrist and hand pain.