Correlation of In-situ Hand Anatomy With Point of Care Ultrasound

Abstract

The effective use of point-of-care ultrasound for the diagnosis and treatment of hand conditions is dependent upon a thorough understanding of its anatomic bases. To facilitate this understanding, in-situ cadaveric hand dissections were correlated with handheld ultrasound images in the palm focusing on key areas of clinical relevance. The palms of an embalmed cadaver were dissected, minimizing the reflection of structures whenever possible to emphasize normal relationships and tissue planes. Point-of-care ultrasound images were obtained from a living hand and correlated with related anatomy in the cadaver. Juxtaposing cadaver structures, spaces, and relationships with the associated ultrasound images, surface hand orientation, and ultrasound probe positioning, a series of images were developed as a guide to correlating in-situ anatomy with point-of-care ultrasound in the hand.