Point-of-care (POC) ultrasound has a great deal to offer clinicians specialising in sports and exercise medicine, and we have some stories to share with you. Earlier this year, we published Dr Adam Garnett’s experience using POC ultrasound at the Jersey Sports Medical Clinic, and Sonosite Spain recently released a video – with subtitles! – following the work of Dr Miguel Angel Buil, chief of medical services for the Spanish premier league football side Levante UD.
We thought we would take a moment to catch up with Dr Dane Vishnubala and discuss his experience of using POC ultrasound in his role as a sports and exercise medicine registrar based in York.
Can you tell us a little about your current role?
My particular interest lies in musculoskeletal medicine, which I practise within the NHS and in my role as team doctor for the GB men’s senior basketball team and York City Football Club. Ultrasound is a key extension of this work, both for diagnosis and for guiding treatment.
What are the benefits of using POC ultrasound in sports medicine?
In a musculoskeletal clinic, POC ultrasound scanning can enable a more accurate diagnosis to be made, as well as confirming a patient’s condition. It gives extra confidence that your diagnosis is correct, providing reassurance that nothing has been missed. It also allows more precise needle positioning for ultrasound-guided injections. In a sports club setting, portable ultrasound systems can quickly deliver additional information to support a provisional diagnosis, providing on-the-spot investigation of an injury – including dynamic imaging – and guiding more rapid and effective patient management. The advantage of scanning at the point of care is that information is instantly available, without the need for a referral.
You currently use a FUJIFILM Sonosite Edge®. Why did you choose this particular system?
It’s a little like choosing a mobile phone – you want to use technology that feels well designed and offers an intuitive and user-friendly experience. When I first started out in ultrasound, the Sonosite Edge was an obvious choice, as I could simply turn it on and get started. The instrument is lightweight, the battery is more than adequate, and I can pick it up and take it with me wherever I go. I’ve also benefitted from the Sonosite Academy Learning Portal, and used a number of videos to help me get set up when I was starting out.
For more information, visit www.sonosite.com/uk/specialties/sports-medicine.