HSS Ultrasound of the Month Case 132

Clinical History

71 year old female with long standing ankle pain, presenting for an ultrasound guided cortisone injection into the ankle joint.

Ultrasound of the Month – Case 132

1

Ultrasound of the Month – Case 132

2

Ultrasound of the Month – Case 132

3

Diagnosis: Ankle Joint Synovitis Ankle joint synovitis is a common source of ankle pain, presenting with a swollen, painful joint.

There are many causes of ankle joint synovitis, including osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritides, and OCD lesions.

On ultrasound, synovitis presents as joint effusion often with associated hyperemia on power Doppler. If the cause is osteoarthritis, arthritic changes to the joint, such as dorsal osteophytes, may be visible on ultrasound.

Treatment may involve physical therapy and ultrasound-guided cortisone injections. If these fail to adequately treat, surgery (arthrodesis vs arthroplasty) is an option.

Ultrasound of the Month – Case 132

4