Bone Ultrasound

Although the present mainstream of bone diagnosis is still done using X-ray techniques, safe and inexpensive ultrasonic diagnostic systems have been widespread for the initial screening of osteoporosis. This paper reviews the background and presents topics in the area of bone ultrasound, which is an interdisciplinary area of ultrasound and orthopedics. Similar to the trends of other medical ultrasound studies, bone ultrasound now includes both medical diagnosis and treatment. Then, the target is not only elderly people but also young teenagers, who should obtain enough bone mass during the process of growth to prevent future osteoporosis and bone fracture during sports training. Focusing on several topics, the applications of ultrasonic techniques to bone are discussed.