Foot & Ankle Ultrasound in Kansas City

Diagnostic ultrasound uses sound waves to create real-time images of soft tissues inside the foot and ankle. It can help evaluate tendons, ligaments, plantar fascia, nerves, soft tissue masses, inflammation, fluid collections, and certain foreign bodies without using ionizing radiation.

Joel Foster, DPM, provides foot and ankle ultrasound in our Lee's Summit office as part of our comprehensive diagnostic imaging services. Because the images are produced in real time, Dr. Foster can examine a specific painful area and use what he sees to help determine the next step in your treatment.

What Is Diagnostic Foot and Ankle Ultrasound?

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves rather than X-rays to create images of structures beneath the skin. A small handheld device called a transducer is moved over the area being examined, sending sound waves into the body and receiving information as those waves reflect back.

A computer converts that information into images Dr. Foster can examine during the appointment.

Ultrasound is particularly valuable in podiatry because many common sources of foot and ankle pain involve soft tissues that cannot be evaluated on a standard X-ray in the same way as bones.

What Can a Foot or Ankle Ultrasound Show?

Depending on your symptoms, ultrasound may help Dr. Foster evaluate:

• Plantar fascia
• Achilles tendon
• Other tendons around the foot and ankle
• Ligaments
• Soft tissue inflammation
• Tendon thickening or tears
• Bursitis
• Cysts and fluid collections
• Soft tissue masses
• Certain nerve problems
• Foreign bodies
• Areas of swelling or unexplained soft tissue pain

Ultrasound for Plantar Fasciitis/Fasciosis and Heel Pain

Plantar fasciitis/fasciosis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The plantar fascia is a band of soft tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, so it cannot be evaluated on a standard X-ray in the same way that a heel bone can.

Ultrasound can allow Dr. Foster to examine the plantar fascia directly and look for changes that may be consistent with irritation or injury.

This can be useful when symptoms have persisted, when the diagnosis is uncertain, or when Dr. Foster wants additional information before recommending treatment.

Patients with persistent heel pain may also benefit from reading more about our options for heel spurs and other causes of heel discomfort.

Ultrasound for Achilles Tendon Pain

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and is one of the largest tendons in the body. Because it is a soft tissue structure, ultrasound can provide information that a standard X-ray cannot.

When evaluating pain at the back of the ankle, ultrasound may help Dr. Foster assess the tendon and look for changes involving its thickness, structure, inflammation, or injury.

If you are experiencing pain or stiffness around the Achilles tendon, learn more about the symptoms and treatment of Achilles tendinitis.

Can Ultrasound Evaluate Tendon and Ligament Injuries?

Yes. Ultrasound is commonly used to evaluate soft tissue structures, including tendons and ligaments.

This can make it useful after certain sports injuries, ankle injuries, repetitive-use problems, or situations where pain continues even though an X-ray does not show a clear bone problem.

Because ultrasound produces images in real time, Dr. Foster may also be able to evaluate a painful structure while the foot or ankle is positioned or moved in a way that reproduces your symptoms.

For a broader overview of these problems, visit our guide to common foot and ankle injuries.

Can Ultrasound Detect a Foreign Body in the Foot?

Ultrasound may be useful for locating certain foreign objects embedded in soft tissue, particularly objects that may be difficult to evaluate with a standard X-ray.

The best imaging method depends partly on what the object is made of and where it is located. Dr. Foster can determine whether ultrasound, X-ray imaging, or another method is most appropriate based on your injury.

Ultrasound Can Also Help Guide Certain Procedures

Ultrasound is not limited to diagnosis. Because Dr. Foster can see the targeted area in real time, ultrasound may also be used to guide certain in-office procedures.

For example, ultrasound guidance can be useful when precise placement is important during an injection, aspiration of a fluid collection, or certain nerve-related procedures.

Real-time visualization can help Dr. Foster identify the targeted structure before and during the procedure.

Ultrasound vs. X-Ray: Which One Do I Need?

It depends on what Dr. Foster needs to see.

Digital X-rays are particularly useful for bones and joints. They may be recommended when Dr. Foster is concerned about a fracture, arthritis, bone alignment, heel spur, or deformity.

Ultrasound is particularly useful for soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, fascia, nerves, masses, and fluid.

In some cases, both forms of imaging are useful because they provide complementary information about different structures in the same area.

Ultrasound vs. 3D Weight-Bearing CT

A weight-bearing CT scan is designed primarily to provide detailed three-dimensional information about bones, joints, and alignment. Ultrasound is designed to show soft tissues in real time.

For example, a patient with a complex bunion or structural flat-foot deformity might benefit from three-dimensional CT imaging. A patient with suspected Achilles tendon damage or plantar fascia pain may be more likely to benefit from ultrasound.

Dr. Foster selects imaging based on the symptoms, examination findings, and clinical question that needs to be answered.

Does Ultrasound Use Radiation?

No. Diagnostic ultrasound creates images using sound waves and does not use ionizing radiation.

This is one reason ultrasound can be an effective tool when Dr. Foster needs a closer look at soft tissues within the foot or ankle.

What Should I Expect During a Foot or Ankle Ultrasound?

The ultrasound is performed in the office. Dr. Foster applies ultrasound gel to the area being examined and moves the transducer over the skin to obtain the necessary views.

Because the images appear in real time, he can focus directly on the location of your symptoms and examine relevant soft tissue structures during your visit.

The information from the ultrasound is then considered along with your examination, symptoms, activity level, medical history, and any other imaging that may have been performed.

What Happens After an Ultrasound?

What happens next depends entirely on what is causing the problem.

Some soft tissue injuries improve with activity modification, stretching, bracing, footwear changes, or other conservative measures. Other conditions may benefit from treatments available in our office such as laser therapy, EPAT, orthotics, injections, or another targeted treatment.

The value of ultrasound is that it helps Dr. Foster better understand the structure involved so treatment can be directed toward the actual source of your symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Foot and Ankle Ultrasound

What is a podiatry ultrasound used for?

Podiatric ultrasound is used primarily to evaluate soft tissues in the foot and ankle, including tendons, ligaments, plantar fascia, nerves, cysts, fluid collections, and certain soft tissue injuries or foreign bodies.

Can ultrasound show plantar fasciitis/fasciosis?

Ultrasound can help Dr. Foster evaluate the plantar fascia and identify changes within the tissue. Whether ultrasound is necessary depends on your symptoms and examination.

Can ultrasound show an Achilles tendon tear?

Ultrasound can provide detailed real-time images of the Achilles tendon and may be useful when evaluating tendon injuries. The appropriate imaging study depends on the type and severity of the suspected injury.

Can ultrasound see a stress fracture?

Ultrasound is not generally the primary imaging method used to evaluate a suspected stress fracture because stress fractures involve bone. Dr. Foster may instead recommend an X-ray, CT scan, or another imaging study depending on your symptoms and examination.

Is ultrasound painful?

Ultrasound itself is noninvasive. However, moving the transducer over an already injured or inflamed area may cause temporary tenderness or discomfort.

How much does a foot ultrasound cost?

Joel Foster, DPM, operates using a direct-care model with published pricing for many services. Visit our products and services pricing page for current ultrasound pricing.

Schedule a Foot or Ankle Ultrasound in Lee's Summit

If heel pain, tendon pain, swelling, a sports injury, or another soft tissue problem is keeping you from comfortably walking or staying active, diagnostic ultrasound may help identify the source.

You can also read Dr. Foster's additional explanation of how ultrasound is used in podiatry.

Joel Foster, DPM, is a double board-certified podiatric surgeon providing foot and ankle care to patients from Lee's Summit and throughout the Kansas City metro area.

Contact our office or call 816-246-4222 to schedule an evaluation and find out whether diagnostic ultrasound is appropriate for your foot or ankle symptoms.