• Radiography (X-ray) is the medical imaging examination of choice for the initial assessment of bone or joint pathologies of the limbs.
• Ultrasound is an excellent non-irradiating examination for the study of superficial and periarticular soft tissues, including the rotator cuff tendons of the shoulder, extensor apparatus of the knee, and the ligaments, and tendons of the ankle.
• When faced with spinal pain, the prescribing physician should look out for warning signs ("red flags") that will guide the choice of medical imaging examinations.
What is already known about this topic?
Like any medical prescription, an imaging examination requires a well-considered clinical approach and prior assessment of the benefit/risk ratio. The prescribing physician is involved in the various stages of justifying the examination, selecting the most appropriate technique, and optimizing the procedure.
What does this article bring up for us?
This article briefly outlines the rules for prescribing medical imaging examinations for joint pain in general medicine.
Key words
Medical imaging examinations, optimization, joint pain