Robert Bowers1,2, David Neuberger3, Christopher Williams2, Lee Kneer1,2, Walter Sussman4. 1. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. 2. Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. 3. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. 4. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound education has been used as a tool to help improve physical examination skills, however its utility in increasing accuracy of joint line palpation has yet to be investigated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of resident palpation and identification of the lateral knee joint line before and after introducing a musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) curriculum. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: A Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program at an academic institution. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen PM&R residents. INTERVENTIONS: Residents underwent a knee focused MSUS workshop. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Distance from needle placement to joint line confirmed with ultrasound. RESULTS: All residents demonstrated improved accuracy in lateral knee joint line palpation after completing a knee focused MSUS workshop, with statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement in Post Graduate Year (PGY) 2 (p=0.02), PGY-3 (p=0.04), and across all residents (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MSUS education significantly improved lateral knee joint line palpation accuracy in resident physicians. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound education has been used as a tool to help improve physical examination skills, however its utility in increasing accuracy of joint line palpation has yet to be investigated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of resident palpation and identification of the lateral knee joint line before and after introducing a musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) curriculum. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: A Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program at an academic institution. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen PM&R residents. INTERVENTIONS: Residents underwent a knee focused MSUS workshop. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Distance from needle placement to joint line confirmed with ultrasound. RESULTS: All residents demonstrated improved accuracy in lateral knee joint line palpation after completing a knee focused MSUS workshop, with statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement in Post Graduate Year (PGY) 2 (p=0.02), PGY-3 (p=0.04), and across all residents (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MSUS education significantly improved lateral knee joint line palpation accuracy in resident physicians. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.