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(How) Should ultrasound enter the match?

Orhan Güvener1, Yiğitcan Karanfil2, Levent Özçakar3

1Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Mersin University Medical School, Mersin, Türkiye
2Hacettepe University Medical School, Sports Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
3Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Türkiye

Owing to its several advantages, ultrasound (US) has gained importance in musculoskeletal medicine.[1] Its applicability in sports arena/ settings has also been established.[2] Herein, we further extend its potential utility by asking “Why cannot it be used during the game as well?”. Similar to technologies such as video-assisted referee, “hawk eye” etc., why are physicians (or medical staff) unable to implement the play considering the athlete's health/injury? For instance, several degrees of acute lesions involving different tissues can readily be evaluated and further catastrophic injuries can be prevented. Indisputably, the medical team should be trained regarding US examination. Needless to say, with improving technology, consulting the US findings to an expert at a remote center for immediate medical advice is not impossible (Figure 1). As such, adding to the question(s) in the title, it would probably be high time to discuss where US should play: at the touch line or the corner area?.

Figure 1. A simulation photograph illustrating how ultrasound examination can be performed during the match and be used simultaneously via telemedicine, as well.

Citation: Güvener O, Karanfil Y, Özçakar L. (How) Should ultrasound enter the match?. Jt Dis Relat Surg 2023;34(2):530. doi: 10.52312/jdrs.2023.1201

Author Contributions

All authors contributed equally to the article.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

  1. Özçakar L, Kara M, Chang KV, Çarl AB, Akkaya N, Tok F, et al. Nineteen reasons why physiatrists should do musculoskeletal ultrasound: EURO-MUSCULUS/USPRM recommendations. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2015;94:e45-9. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000223.
  2. Tok F, Özçakar L, De Muynck M, Kara M, Vanderstraeten G. Musculoskeletal ultrasound for sports injuries. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med 2012;48:651-63.