Ultrasound in knee osteoarthritis: the added value

Oo et al. (2016) conclude that ultrasound (US) is more sensitive than clinical examination and plain radiography in recognition of important abnormalities prevalent in knee osteoarthritis (OA). It is an excellent tool not only to recognize the bony profile but also to visualize the soft tissues, helping the professional to determine the type and extent of these structural damages. The semiquantitative ultrasound grading system the authors propose has been validated and will be valuable in monitoring disease progression. ultrasound also has the potential to further clarify the role of soft tissues and provide new insights in the disease genesis, pathology, progression, and prediction of OA. However, the long learning curve is still an important limitation to be overcome for widespread application of ultrasound in routine clinical practice.