By using a principle- and evidence-based approach, physicians can improve patients' function and comfort and reduce their pain and disability..… Read More
Uncommon conditions and common conditions with uncommon presentations—test and sharpen your diagnostic skills with these challenging musculoskeletal cases..… Read More
Portable, bedside musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) equipment has placed the potential for advanced imaging in the hands of office-based clinicians. Assessment of synovial tissue is one of the main applications of MSUS in rheumatology.
Recent advances in drug therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased the importance of early intervention. Several serological testing and imaging techniques help facilitate early diagnosis. C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate have limitations in predicting RA. Rheumatoid factor acts as a prognostic marker for later joint damage in patients with early RA. Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide can predict more erosive disease. Radiography currently is the marker for structural damage in RA, but it cannot detect soft tissue changes or actual cartilage deterioration. MRI is the most sensitive imaging modality. Ultrasonography has been shown to be more sensitive than conventional radiography in detecting erosions. (J Musculoskel Med. 2008;25:110-115)
Advanced MRI techniques may be used to detect subtle changes in joint cartilage microstructure, providing physicians with a diagnostic tool for finding key markers of early osteoarthritis (OA), according to researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center’s departments of orthopedic surgery and radiology.
Although it is the standard of care and recommended in guidelines, consulting an MRI image before epidural injections for low back pain does not provide a clear advantage in a rigorous trial. But not seeing one can cause problems. More »
A consensus group of primary care physicians has found that ordering images for low back pain and DXA scans for women younger than 65 are top contributors to the high cost of medical care. More »
Tax Schemes Every Physician Should Avoid Ike Devji, JD, January 31, 2012 The next 60 days marks the final push to sell physicians across the United States tax plans of both good and questionable value.
Prevent Physician Distraction When Using mHealth Technology Aubrey Westgate, January 25, 2012 As more and more physicians use handheld mobile technology in their day-to-day work, some critics are raising concerns about “distracted doctoring.”
Can That Applicant Do the Job at Your Medical Practice? Karen Zupko, January 25, 2012 If like many communities, yours has significant numbers of non-English speaking people with whom neither you nor your staff are able to converse, your practice is at a serious disadvantage.
