皆川 洋至

Hiroshi MINAGAWA

秋田大学神経運動器学講座整形外科学分野

Department of Neuro and Locomotor Science,Division of Orthopedic Surgery,Akita University School of Medicine

キーワード : musculoskeletal ultrasound, orthopedics

著しい画質向上を背景に，単純Ｘ線写真，CT，MRIが画像診断の主役であった整形外科領域でも急速に超音波診断が普及し始めている．超音波は運動器を構成する骨，さらには軟骨，筋，腱，靭帯，末梢神経といった軟部組織における病変の把握に威力を発揮し，その有用性は外来診療ばかりでなく，病院外，すなわちフィールドにおける運動器検診へと臨床応用範囲を広げている．運動器検診は整形外科が今後取り組んでいく大きな事業の一つであり，運動器疾患の予防活動に対する超音波診断の需要は今後拡大していくことが予測される．また，整形外科領域では3次元再構築画像，組織弾性評価といった新技術も積極的に取り入れられ，従来とは全く違った視点からの臨床応用，病態解明に向けた研究が進んでいる．しかし，運動器超音波の普及という点ではまだまだ不十分であり，教育，啓蒙活動に対するさらに積極的な取り組みが今後の課題と考える．

With the rapid improvement of ultrasound images, musculoskeletal ultrasonography has become an important imaging modality in addition to plain radiography, CT, and MRI. It is useful for the assessment of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, ligament, and peripheral nerve pathology. The utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound is not only suited for diagnosis in the clinic but also for preventive medicine in the field. As ultrasound technology rapidly advances, it opens new fields for the assessment of musculoskeletal disorders. Three-dimensional reconstructed imaging made possible effective presentation and preoperative simulation of arthroscopic surgery. Elastography, which represents the compressibility of soft tissue, is used for the quantitative assessment of the material properties related to the mechanism of musculoskeletal disorders. Progress in this technology has been seen in Japan, but its use is not as widespread as in foreign countries. Proactive efforts will be necessary with respect to education and activities to raise awareness.