Ultrasound for Podiatrists

This 2 day introductory seminar is for Podiatrists, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors and Osteopaths, Nurses and other Allied Health Professionals with an interest in utilising ultrasound imaging in their clinical practice. The format features didactic lectures, interactive scanning demonstrations and hands-on scanning tuition with a focus on scanning of the foot and ankle.

This course is ideally tailored to new graduates, those with no or limited exposure to rehabilitative and diagnostic ultrasound with a desire to learn, and those currently using ultrasound whom wish to reinforce and expand their knowledge base.

Curriculum:   

Basic Physics

• Basic physics of ultrasound ,instrumentation and artifacts.
• Knobology, scan techniques and terminology

Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology of the Foot and Ankle

• Nerves
• Muscle
• Tendon
• Ligaments
• Enthesis
• Fascia
• Bone
• Joints

Imaging of soft tissue pathology

• Identify tears of major muscles, ligaments and tendons of the foot and ankle
• Identify torn ligaments
• Identify tendinopathy
• Identifying grades of tendinopathy (ie reactive vs disrepair vs degenerative tendinopathy).
• Identify soft tissue collections (including haematomas, abscesses ,ganglia and Mortens neuroma)
• Identify joint effusions and synovial thickening
• Identify bursitis
• Principles of foreign body localization
• Complications of normal healing process including fibrosis, calcification, infection and non-healing
• Have an understanding of the limitations and pitfalls of scanning the foot and ankle

Interventional Techniques ( if required) and practical techniques in ultrasound scanning of the foot and ankle.

Objectives

On completion of the seminar, registrants should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant anatomy
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively perform basic soft tissue imaging
• Identify relevant muscles and tendons and ligaments
• Identify and assess soft tissue injuries including haematomas, muscle injuries, major ligament injuries and major tendon tears
•  Identify ultrasound evidence suggesting fracture of small bones
•  Identify foreign bodies
• Identify arthropathy, tendinopathy, enthesopathy tenosynovitis and bursitis
•  Understand the limitations of ultrasound in diagnosis soft tissue injuries
•  Understand the complications in the normal healing process including fibrosis, calcification, infection and non-healing
• Write a structured report or complete proforma report for soft tissue assessment of the foot and ankle
• Have the clinical knowledge and ultrasound skill to be able to make appropriate management decisions according to the clinical situation
• Understand the requirement for a comprehensive scan and expert input in certain settings

Registrants requiring CAHPU accreditation should contact ASUM www.asum.com.au

 Morning tea and lunch will be provided.