Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Wheat Ridge, CO
Musculoskeletal ultrasound lets Dr. Kroner look at a painful tendon, ligament, muscle or joint during your visit, while you move it, and talk you through what he sees on the screen. For many injuries it answers the question that matters right away, without a referral, a separate appointment or weeks of waiting for an MRI.
Dr. Christopher Kroner completed additional training in point-of-care ultrasound at UC Irvine and uses it daily in sports medicine at Ridgeview Direct Care in Wheat Ridge.
What ultrasound can show
Ultrasound is especially good at the structures just under the skin, and it can show them in motion. It is commonly used to evaluate:
- Tendon problems such as tendinopathy and partial or full tears, including the rotator cuff, Achilles, patellar tendon and the elbow tendons involved in tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Ligament sprains, including LCL and MCL injuries of the knee
- Muscle strains and tears
- Fluid in a joint, bursitis and ganglion cysts
- Nerve problems such as an enlarged median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome
What ultrasound does not show
Ultrasound cannot see inside bone or deep within a joint. It is not the right test for most fractures, cartilage damage inside the knee, or many meniscus and ACL injuries, and it does not replace imaging for the spine or brain. When an X-ray or MRI will answer the question better, Dr. Kroner will say so and coordinate the order.
Ultrasound vs. MRI
An MRI is the better test for some injuries, and ultrasound is the better first step for many others. The practical differences:
- Timing: ultrasound happens during your visit; an MRI usually means a referral, an authorization and a separate appointment.
- Movement: ultrasound can watch a tendon or nerve as you move, which a still MRI image cannot.
- Comparison: the other side can be scanned in seconds for comparison.
- Cost: an MRI often costs several hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on your insurance and where it is done. In-office ultrasound at Ridgeview is a flat, published price.
Our article on whether you need an MRI for knee pain walks through how this decision works for one of the most common injuries.
Ultrasound-guided injections
Ultrasound is also used to guide injections, so the needle can be placed precisely in the tendon, joint or bursa being treated. Dr. Kroner uses ultrasound guidance for PRP injections and for selected joint injections.
What a visit looks like
Most ultrasound evaluations happen as part of a sports medicine visit. Dr. Kroner takes a history and examines the area first, then scans it with a small handheld probe and gel. It is painless and uses no radiation. You see the images as he goes, and you leave with a diagnosis or a clear next step.
Price
Musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound is $35 for Ridgeview members and $70 for non-members, in addition to the visit. See the full sports medicine price list. You do not need a membership to be seen for a sports medicine problem.
Ultrasound questions
Is musculoskeletal ultrasound painful?
No. It uses a handheld probe and gel on the skin, with no needles and no radiation. Pressing on an injured area can be tender, and Dr. Kroner adjusts as he goes.
Do I need a referral for an ultrasound?
No. Ultrasound is done during your sports medicine visit at Ridgeview, without a separate referral or appointment.
Will ultrasound replace my MRI?
Sometimes. For many tendon, ligament and muscle injuries, ultrasound answers the question. When it cannot, Dr. Kroner explains why and orders the right imaging.
Medically reviewed by Christopher Kroner, MD, MPH, primary care and sports medicine physician. This page is general information, not medical advice. For a medical emergency, call 911.
See what is going on, during your visit.
Book a sports medicine visit with Dr. Kroner. You do not need a membership to be seen.
Visit Ridgeview Direct Care
Ridgeview Direct Care
Address: 4045 Wadsworth Blvd Ste 300, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Phone: 720-807-9961
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, by appointment