Musculoskeletal Ultrasound

This study aims to evaluate whether adding a fenestration procedure to standard ultrasound-guided aspiration and corticosteroid-lidocaine injection provides additional clinical benefits for patients with symptomatic Baker's cyst associated with knee osteoarthritis. Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled swelling located behind the knee that may cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited mobility. Although aspiration with medication injection is commonly used to relieve symptoms, recurrence of the cyst is frequent. Fenestration is a minimally invasive technique in which small controlled openings are created in the cyst wall under ultrasound guidance to improve internal drainage and potentially reduce recurrence. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study, participants will be assigned to one of two groups: 1. aspiration with corticosteroid and lidocaine injection, or 2. aspiration with corticosteroid and lidocaine injection plus fenestration. Pain, functional scores, cyst measurements, and recurrence will be assessed at follow-up visits at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the addition of fenestration results in better symptom improvement and lower rates of recurrence compared with standard aspiration alone.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, frequently presents with musculoskeletal extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), such as arthritis and enthesitis, affecting up to 50% of patients. These can be subclinical and are often underestimated by physical examination alone. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) is a sensitive, non-invasive tool for detecting both clinical and subclinical inflammation. Despite its benefits, there is no standardized MSK-US protocol specifically for IBD patients. This study aims to develop a structured MSK-US assessment protocol, evaluate its effectiveness in detecting musculoskeletal involvement, and investigate its relationship with IBD disease activity.

Evaluation of muscle state in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Application of elastography in the detection of muscle stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis