Primary Care Physicians Can Successfully Diagnose Meniscal Tears With Ultrasound

 g point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), according to new research presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) 2024 Annual Meeting.

Patients with acute knee injuries, such as meniscal tears, often face delays in obtaining advanced imaging such as MRI, especially in safety-net hospitals and other resource-limited care settings.

Researchers from New York City Health and Hospitals/Bellevue addressed this problem by implementing POCUS into the diagnostic process at the safety net hospital.

"This tool [POCUS] can significantly reduce the need for advanced imaging and specialty consultations, which is particularly beneficial in resource-limited settings," said Isaac Holmes, MD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Langone Health, who presented the findings.

For the study, clinicians in affiliated primary care and urgent care clinics were trained in knee POCUS. They placed markers on ultrasound images to denote areas of concern, which were then reviewed by outside clinicians.

In cases in which meniscal injuries were suspected, the addition of POCUS to the standard history and physical examination provided reliable results, according to the findings.

Out of the 11 patients who were identified with meniscal injuries using POCUS, six underwent an MRI, confirming the diagnosis in all cases. Three patients were awaiting an MRI by the presentation time, one MRI was canceled due to resolved symptoms, and one patient was lost to follow-up, the study noted.

Although the study was limited to a small sample size, the findings highlight the effectiveness of POCUS in diagnosing meniscal injuries, according to Robert H. Brophy, MD, director of the Orthopaedic Clinical Research Center at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Brophy was not affiliated with the study.

Wider application of POCUS in a clinical and urgent care setting can "improve patient outcomes by expediting care and reducing the burden on more advanced imaging resources," such as MRI, Brophy said.

Holmes reported no relevant disclosures.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/primary-care-physicians-can-successfully-diagnose-meniscal-2024a1000a7v