Laura Hayes Physiotherapist
A high-tech approach to diagnose ankle injuries using ultrasound is being trialled at Redland Hospital.
The Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) will mean patients can be seen at their bedside.
Bayside Health Advanced Physiotherapist Laura Hayes said rare high ankle sprains called syndesmosis injuries were challenging to diagnose and often needed costly MRI scans.
"Bayside Health Service is using portable ultrasound devices at the patient’s bedside to scan for
ligament injuries that can signal a syndesmosis injury for a more immediate assessment both at the Redland Hospital Emergency Department and the Satellite Hospital's Minor Injuries and Illness Clinic," she said. "With POCUS, physiotherapists can assess suspected injuries on the spot.
"Ultrasound will help us to identify injuries earlier and reduce the risk of long-term issues," she said. "The use of the ultrasound is being studied so it has real potential to change the way we diagnosed syndesmosis injuries in the future,” she said.
The study is supported by a $50,000 grant from the Emergency Medicine Foundation and Bayside Health Service’s trial, in partnership with the Medical Imaging and Orthopaedics departments, will examines the effectiveness and reliability of using ultrasound as a standard practice for these types of injuries.
If successful, this approach could become a model for other emergency departments to deliver faster care and better outcomes for patients with ankle injuries.