Volume 2 Issue 4 | 2025 | View PDF
Paper Id:IJMSM-V2I4P120
doi: 10.71141/30485037/V2I4P120

Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POCUS) for Musculoskeletal Conditions in the Emergency Department: A Scoping Review

Maya Anura Hyune, Rosdara Masayuni Bt Mohd Sani

Citation:
Maya Anura Hyune, Rosdara Masayuni Bt Mohd Sani, "Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POCUS) for Musculoskeletal Conditions in the Emergency Department: A Scoping Review" International Journal of Multidisciplinary on Science and Management, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 181-195, 2025.

Abstract:
Musculoskeletal conditions are among the most common presentations in Emergency Departments (ED) worldwide, contributing significantly to overcrowding and patient burden. While conventional radiography remains the primary imaging modality, being widely regarded as the diagnostic gold standard, emerging evidence highlights the increasing utility of POCUS. Its bedside availability, portability, versatility, and rapid diagnostic capability suggest potential benefits for reducing length-of-stay (LOS) and improving patient flow. Case reports of occult fractures missed on radiographs but later detected using POCUS raise further questions about the limitations of plain films. Beyond diagnostic accuracy, POCUS enables earlier initiation of treatment, avoids exposure to ionising radiation, and offers practical value in resource-limited settings, underscoring its growing relevance in emergency care. This scoping review evaluates the role of POCUS in diagnosing musculoskeletal conditions, outlines its advantages and limitations, assesses its potential integration into ED practice, and identifies gaps to guide future research. A total of 35 studies were included, with study selection mapped using a PRISMA flow diagram; of these, 31 studies support POCUS as a useful diagnostic tool, whereas four report limitations associated with missed ankle injuries, cervical spine injuries, and rib fractures. Overall, current evidence indicates that POCUS is a valuable adjunct in the assessment of musculoskeletal conditions, providing additional diagnostic support through the detection of secondary signs such as soft-tissue injuries, effusions, and haematomas that are not typically visible on radiography, although it cannot yet replace radiography or other gold-standard imaging modalities.

Keywords: Diagnostic Accuracy, Emergency Department, Musculoskeletal, Occult Fracture, Point-of-Care Ultrasound.

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