The Orthopedic clinics of North America
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High-field MRI is moving rapidly from the research realm to clinical use. This modality has intrinsic advantages in signal to noise ratio, which allows images that have im-proved resolution, are obtained faster, or have less noise. Perhaps most importantly these scanners will allow functional imaging to become a reality in the musculoskeletal system. Care must be used in protocols because of the energy deposition and worsened artifacts at higher fields.
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Ultrasonography is a useful imaging tool for various soft tissue and joint pathologies affecting the lower extremity. This article reviews the normal sonographic appearance of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, bone, and cartilage. The ultrasound imaging appearance of various pathologic conditions affecting the hip, thigh, knee, lower leg, ankle,and foot are illustrated. The advantages of ultrasonography are highlighted.