Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Portable Ultrasound vs Portable X-Ray as Diagnostic Imaging of Knee Structures in Clinical Medicine

Samira Abdul Wajid, Samith Ahmed, Vaugn Devera, Devin Dickerson, Austin Thompson, Julia Villela

Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences · pp. 41–50 · Published 5 Aug 2020

10.9734/jamps/2020/v22i630178

Abstract

Background: Imaging techniques are providing physicians an opportunity to ensure more accurate diagnostics. While MRI and CT are the gold standard diagnostic tools, they are not utilized as primary diagnostic tools due to their size, immobility, and exposure to radiation. It is not always feasible or practical to wait for a technician in an emergency department to conduct these examinations. As technology continues to advance, diagnostic tools are becoming more portable. X-ray and ultrasound are utilized to diagnose, as well as exclude potential causes of illness. Our objective is to determine which diagnostic tool is more efficient in diagnosing patella/knee injuries. Methods: This systematic review aims to determine which diagnostic tool is more efficient at diagnosing injuries. By collecting and reviewing existing research to compare the limitations of injury detection, the accessibility and portability of both diagnostic machines, the safety in regards to radiation exposure to patient and physician, the reliability of the diagnoses, and the costs of each machine Results: Of the reviewed articles, 58% of the articles focusing on knee injuries indicated that ultrasound imaging is a superior diagnostic instrument due to its efficacy and accessibility. When comparing ultrasound to x-ray directly, it was shown that ultrasound is a more precise diagnostic tool. Conclusion: Ultrasound imaging is a more effective diagnostic tool than x-ray. It is better able to diagnose bone, soft tissue, and vessel injuries. It is a safer tool for both the patient and the physician because it uses sound rather than radiation to produce an image. It is also more accessible as advances in technology have made portable ultrasounds a protocol for quick assessments of injuries.

Portable ultrasound portable x-ray benefits disadvantages limitations cost accessibility bone joints

References (18)

  1. 1 The discordance between clinical and radiographic knee osteoarthritis: A systematic search and summary of the literature [DOI]
  2. 2 Reliability of ultrasound measurements of quadriceps muscle thickness in critically ill patients [DOI]
  3. 3 A short history of sonography in obstetrics and gynaecology.
  4. 4 Comparison of posterior‐stabilized, cruciate‐retaining, and medial‐stabilized knee implant motion during gait [DOI]
  5. 5 Assessing Lower Limb Alignment: Comparison of Standard Knee Xray vs Long Leg View.
  6. 6 Prospective imaging study of asymptomatic patellar tendinopathy in elite junior basketball players. [DOI]
  7. 7 Cartilage and Soft Tissue Imaging Using X-rays [DOI]
  8. 8 Validity and reliability of using photography for measuring knee range of motion: a methodological study [DOI]
  9. 9 Economics of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound [DOI]
  10. 10 X-ray computed tomography of the anterior cruciate ligament and patellar tendon [DOI]
  11. 11 Standards for musculoskeletal ultrasound [DOI]
  12. 12 Inter-rater reliability of an ultrasound protocol to evaluate the anterolateral ligament of the knee [DOI]
  13. 13 Value of real time B mode ultrasound imaging in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs.
  14. 14 Comparison of ultrasound and plain radiography for the detection of long-bone fractures [DOI]
  15. 15 Pseudogout Diagnosed By Point-of-care Ultrasound [DOI]
  16. 16 Reliability and methodology of quantitative assessment of harvested and unharvested patellar tendons of ACL injured athletes using ultrasound tissue characterization [DOI]
  17. 17 Ultrasound: more harm than good?
  18. 18 Inter-Rater Reliability of an Ultrasound Protocol to Evaluate the Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee [DOI]

Cited by 4

Identifying malaligned knee screw during ultrasound examination

Pelin Türkekul, Jakub Jačisko, Filip Jevič · PM&R · 2025

Showing 1 of 4 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

79

Page views

0

PDF downloads

31

Outbound clicks

4

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.