The use of ultrasonography in the foot and ankle.

Ultrasonography of the soft tissue has achieved an increasing importance in the last years. Since sonography of the shoulder, knee, muscles, and tendons has become a routine method, there is less application of ultrasound in foot and ankle pathology. Since 1985, ultrasonography has been the routine examination technique in the Trauma Department of Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. We now have a series of more than 4000 sonographic examinations. This paper gives a comprehensive overview of the possibilities in application and technique of ultrasonography in foot and ankle disorders. The sonographic patterns of the pathological changes of the main structures are described.