ABSTRACT
Background: Ultrasound (US) is a non-invasive method that enables differentiation between different causes of hand and wrist pain and evaluation of several joints during early disease and in mild symptoms. Aim: To assess the role of High-Resolution Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSUS) in diagnosis of early undiagnosed hand and wrist pain and their causes. Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study involved 100 patients with non-traumatic painful wrist. Appropriate clinical history and relevant laboratory findings (RA factor, ESR, CRP, anti CCP) were recorded. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) of wrists and hands was performed. Results We found that synovitis was found in 69 (69%) patients, erosions in 28 (28%) patients, double contour sign in 6 (6%) patients, osteophytes in 33 (33%) patients, synovial hypertrophy in 5 (5%) patients, subcutaneous fat thickness was found in 2 (2%) patients at wrist dorsal view only, extensor tenosynovitis in 70 (70%) patients and flexor tenosynovitis 36 (36%) patients. Conclusion: Ultrasound is considered an effective tool for diagnosis of early undiagnosed hand and wrist pain and evaluation of several pathologic conditions of the hand and wrist.