A hand ultrasound visualizes soft tissues in real time—tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves and joint spaces—detecting tears, inflammation, tenosynovitis, synovial thickening, bursitis, ganglion cysts, fluid collections and foreign bodies. Doppler assesses blood flow and active inflammation. It can guide injections and procedures. Ultrasound shows cortical bone surfaces but is limited for deep bone or complex fractures compared with X‑ray or CT.

Ultrasound left/right are set by the probe marker: structures nearest the marker appear on the left side of the screen, and structures away from the marker appear on the right. For example, in a transverse abdominal scan with the marker pointed toward the patient’s right, the patient’s right will display on the left of the image. Always confirm orientation with the operator.

Yes. Hand ultrasound is a safe, non‑invasive, radiation‑free test useful for evaluating soft tissues, including tendons, ligaments, nerves (for example the median nerve in carpal tunnel), joints, cysts and foreign bodies, and for guiding injections. It provides real‑time dynamic imaging at the bedside. Limitations: operator dependence and reduced ability to assess bone marrow or complex deep structures; MRI may be needed.

Ultrasound has limited ability to evaluate bones because sound waves don’t penetrate intact bone. It can detect cortical disruptions, surface fractures (especially in children), periosteal reactions, joint effusions and adjacent soft‑tissue problems, and guide procedures. For deeper or marrow‑based pathology, and most fractures, X‑ray, CT or MRI are more accurate. Results are operator‑dependent.

Yes. Ultrasound uses high‑frequency sound waves to image soft tissues and blood flow. It reliably detects many conditions—pregnancy and fetal issues, gallstones, cysts, some tumors, fluid collections, heart and vascular problems—and guides biopsies. Limitations: it’s operator‑dependent, less effective through bone or air‑filled organs, and has lower resolution than CT/MRI for very small or deep lesions.

A hand ultrasound typically takes about 10–30 minutes. A straightforward scan of a single area often lasts 10–15 minutes; more detailed, multi-site, or Doppler assessments may take 20–30 minutes. Allow extra time for registration, positioning and any discussion of results—your total visit may be 30–45 minutes. Your clinician will advise the expected duration based on your symptoms and the exam required.