Recently we were honored to have Bill Medford RDMS, a well known musculoskeletal ultrasound specialist visit our clinic. Bill observed numerous procedures including Platelet Rich Plasma Injections. Bill offered some insightful tips on evaluating the shoulder with his extensive experience of performing studies for over 10 years now. Bill will be lecturing at our TOBI sponsored PRP injection seminar with ultrasound guidance, Aug 13-14
in Los Angeles. There are over 30 doctors attending from around the world, with renowned guest speakers. This sold out seminar is one of the first of it’s kind which demonstrates the growing enthisiasm worldwide to advance the field of regenerative medicine.
Posts Tagged ‘musculoskeletal ultrasound’
Bill Medford, Musculoskeletal Ultrasound expert from Sonosite visits Orthohealing Center
Thursday, August 5th, 2010Ultrasound Specialist, Daniel Shelton visits Orthohealing Center
Monday, June 14th, 2010We were thrilled to have Daniel Shelton visit our clinic last wk. Daniel has a wealth of experience training physicians how to utilize musculoskeletal ultrasound in their orthopedic practices. Daniel showed us some real exciting advanced protocols that we were not aware of including evaluation of the pubic symphisis and some dynamic (patient motion) studies of the hip and knee. Daniel is based in Texas and lectures frequently on ultrasound and visits clinics and professional sports team to advance the field. Keep up the great work Daniel!
New PRP Platelet Rich Plasma Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Training Seminar!
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010TOBI, The Orthobiologic Institute is pleased to present a PRP training seminar in Los Angeles, CA August 13-14, 2010. The course will feature various speakers and physicians from around the world are expected to attend. The course will bring together physicians looking to learn ultrasound guided PRP procedures and will also welcome those with extensive PRP experience to collaborate together to advance the field of orthobiologics and regenerative medicine. The course is sponsored by Sonosite and will feature hands on workshops with patient models and live injection demonstrations.
For more info visit www.prpseminar.com
Dr Satoshi Sobajima of Japan visits The Orthohealing Center to observe Platelet Rich Plasma Procedures
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
We were thrilled to have Satoshi Sobajima MD, an orthopaedic surgeon from Osaka Japan visit last week. Dr Sobajima spent time at the University of Pittsburg doing progressive research in regenerative medicine. Using stem cells, gene therapy, & PRP Dr Sobajima studied regeneration of intervertebral discs of the spine in animal models. Currently Dr Sobajima is looking at PRP & stem cells to regenerate cortical bone in Rabbit Femurs. This research could potentially influence surgical protocol around the world as we look for more cost effective, safer, and natural based alternatives. Dr Sobajima will be presenting his data at the Regenerative Medicine conference in Hiroshima in March 2010. Dr Steven Sampson will also be discussing his knee arthritis study and PRP experiences in Japan.
Dr Sobajima was particularily interested in utilizing ultrasound guidance for his non surgical management of orthopaedic issues. We welcome Dr’s from around the world to visit here to observe our work & to collaborate on research projects in the future.
New iPhone Application Teaches Doctors how to use Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Thursday, November 12th, 2009Shoulder Injection Ultrasound demonstration
Dr Steven Sampson was featured in a new iPhone application to teach Doctors across the world how to begin using ultrasound to enhance their practice. Ultrasound is used commonly in Europe, but suprisingly is only now seeing increased use. Ultrasound provides remarkable images of tendons and ligaments and soft tissue in some cases superior to MRI. Also Ultrasound is extremely cost effective compared to other imaging like MRI. Thus by utilizing state of the art technology our health care system could save millions of dollars. “Pioneer patients” are driving awareness to doctors who will have to meet the demand for more cutting edge treatents & imaging to help them recover and heal.
Dr Steven Sampson teaching Sonosite Shoulder Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Workshop in Seattle, WA June 27, 2009
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Along with Orthopaedist Ben DuBois MD, Dr Steven Sampson will be hosting a training seminar “Introduction to Shoulder Ultrasound.” The course will be in Seattle WA on June 27, 2009 from 8:30am-5:30pm. Dr Sampson also will be acting as a Preceptor to train physicians who are beginning their ultrasound training.
A PDF brochure is available on this link.
Also, Dr Sampson will discuss his research & clinical experience with PRP, Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy.
Additionally Physicians from around the world visit Dr Sampson’s Office: The Orthohealing Center in Los Angeles for training of platelet Rich Plasma procedures with ultrasound guidance.
For more info on PRP training: www.orthohealing.com
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound seeing increased use in Orthopaedics
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
Yale New Haven Hospital is among the growing community of progressive physicians integrating ultrasound into their orthopaedic practice.
I believe musculoskleletal ultrasound will become a standard tool to help physicians in orthopaedics & sports medicine, much like it is in Europe. With advancements in technology, ultrasound provides unbelievable images of tendons, ligaments, and fluid inside the body. These images are very useful for diagnostic purposesand also guide the physician with injection procedures to ensure accuracy within millimeters of the target. Anecdotally I have found that patients getting cortisone injections have less discomfort with ultrasound guidance because painful structures like bone & tendon are avoided. Also patients enjoy the interaction that ultrasound provides with the physician. Patients can for example move their shoulder around to a particular position to reproduce pain that may not be seen with a static exam like x-ray or MRI. Also ultrasound is cost effective.

A series of studies examined the use, training, outcomes and accuracy of surgeon-held musculoskeletal ultrasound at Yale School of Medicine and Duke Medical School. Researchers found that orthopaedic surgeons can reduce overall time to patient diagnosis, enhance subjective and objective clinical outcomes, and significantly lower some out-of-pocket expense for patients. Results of the studies were presented at the 2008 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine (AIUM) annual meetings.
Dry Needling effective for Plantar Fasciitis
Thursday, January 15th, 2009
With musculoskeletal ultrasound to examine the heel (much like looking obstetrician’s use to examine a fetus), physicians are able to accurately target heel pain.
With the advancement of technology we are able to further our understanding of disease as well as offer innovative treatments.
At the December 08 annual Radiological Society of North America, Luca M. Sconfienza, MD, from University of Genoa in Italy demonstrated 95% efficacy with dry needling followed by cortisone.
Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common foot problems affecting 1 million people. Patients typically complain of inner heel pain with stiffness in the morning and later throughout the day with weight bearing.
44 patients were treated who had previously failed extra corporeal shockwave therapy. Shock wave therapy works by a similar means through creation of micro trauma that increases blood flow and promotes healing in a deficient ligament or tendon.
A similar procedure is done with platelet rich plasma therapy, which involves needling of the thickened and oxygen deficient plantar fascia under ultrasound guidance. But rather than using cortisone, the patients own growth factors (extracted from their arm from a blood draw) are injected into the area of injury to promote natural healing. Unlike cortisone, platelets & growth factors have no reported ill effects of tendon tearing or rupture, but rather regenerate the tissue.
Ultrasound Guided Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
Thursday, January 3rd, 2008
A growing number of physicians are using musculoskeletal ultrasound to guide various injections. As a leading imaging technique in Europe, ultrasound is safe, economic, convenient, & effective in diagnosing many injuries. The technology has dramatically improved and allows us to visualize nerve & tendon fibers. While the quality is not quite MRI caliber, ultrasound allows for dynamic (motion studies). In other words, ultrasound allows functional evaluation of an injury with movement, whereas MRI takes a still image. Also, ultrasound has color doppler that shows areas of blood flow changes (called neo vascularization). This allows us to deliver the PRP within a millimeter of the target site, or even discover other regions that are affected.
Ultrasound technology continues to grow. I just upgraded to this Sonosite portable machine with color doppler.

New Platelet Rich Plasma Web Site
Tuesday, December 18th, 2007
I recently launched a web site on PRP. It is another resource for health professionals & patients to learn more about this emerging therapy. Additionally, I will be hosting a conference in early May 2008, in Los Angeles to train other physicians on the use of PRP along with musculoskeletal ultrasound guidance.
The site will include testimonials as well as promote further communication amongst patients.







