The Impact of an Ultrasound Curriculum on the Accuracy of Resident Joint Line Palpation. Issue 11 (23rd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bowers, Robert; Neuberger, David; Williams, Christopher; Kneer, Lee; Sussman, Walter
• Is Part Of: PM&R. Volume 13:Issue 11(2021)
• Page Start: 1261
• Page End: 1265
• Publication Date: 2021-01-23
• Subjects: Medical rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy Modalities -- Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1002/pmrj.12538
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1934-1482

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Ultrasound education has been used as a tool to help improve physical examination skills. However, its utility in increasing accuracy of joint line palpation has yet to be investigated. Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of resident palpation and identification of the lateral knee joint line before and after introducing a musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) curriculum. Design: Cohort study. Setting: A physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) residency program at an academic institution. Participants: Seventeen PM&R residents. Interventions: Residents underwent a knee‐focused MSUS workshop. Main Outcome Measures: Distance from needle placement to joint line confirmed with ultrasound. Results: All residents demonstrated improved accuracy in lateral knee joint line palpation after completing a knee‐focused MSUS workshop, with statistically significant ( P < .05) improvement in postgraduate year (PGY) 2 ( P = .02), PGY‐3 ( P = .04), and across all residents ( P = .001). Conclusions: MSUS education significantly improved lateral knee joint line palpation accuracy in resident physicians.