I Had a Fracture… Now I Have Arthritis?

Why Do I Still Have Pain?

The cast is gone. The fracture has healed. You thought that chapter was over.

Then months—or even years—later, the joint begins to hurt again. Maybe it feels stiff when you first get moving. Perhaps it swells after activity, your range of motion isn’t what it used to be, or you simply notice that the joint has never felt quite the same since the injury.

An injury involving a joint can sometimes lead to post-traumatic arthritis. Damage from the original injury may change the way the joint surfaces move against one another, and over time the cartilage can begin to wear down. It can happen after fractures, dislocations, or other significant joint injuries.

Where MSK Ultrasound Can Help

X-rays are commonly used to evaluate the bony and joint-space changes associated with arthritis. But they don’t always tell the entire story of why a joint hurts.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound provides a different view. It can evaluate many of the structures in and around the painful joint and may reveal joint fluid, inflammation of the joint lining, changes along accessible bone surfaces, and problems involving nearby tendons or other soft tissues.

And because ultrasound is performed in real time, the painful area can often be examined while the patient moves—helping connect what is seen on the screen with where and when the patient actually hurts.

Before He Ever Picks Up the Probe

At Orthopedic Ultrasound, every examination begins before the ultrasound probe is ever picked up.   We start by listening...where does it hurt, what movement causes the pain, and when did it begin?

Michael Jablon, an expert in musculoskeletal ultrasound, uses a focused history, along with a careful physical and positional examination, to help determine which structures may be involved before beginning the ultrasound exam.

It’s an approach he has refined over years of experience and now teaches to his students as the Jablon Protocol: listen, examine, and then let the ultrasound help complete the picture.

The Old Injury May Be Only Part of the Story

Pain in a previously injured joint doesn’t automatically mean arthritis. The discomfort could also involve a tendon, ligament, inflammation, fluid around the joint, or another structure affected by the way the joint now moves.

That’s why looking beyond the old fracture can be important. MSK ultrasound may help identify what is contributing to the pain today and provide useful information to help guide the next step in your care.

Ready to Get Answers?

If an old injury has started hurting again, Orthopedic Ultrasound Inc. can provide a detailed musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluation to help identify what may be contributing to your symptoms.

To schedule an evaluation, call Orthopedic Ultrasound Inc. at 949.229.7377.