Evaluation of the Contribution of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound to the General Practitioner's Overall Decision-making Strategy

The Contribution of Targeted Musculoskeletal Ultrasound to the General Practitioner's Overall Decision-making Strategy for Patients With Suspected Musculoskeletal Pathology: a Before/After Study

The hypothesis of this study is that musculoskeletal point of care ultrasonography would support the GP's decision and ultimately improve patient management.

The aim of this study is to evaluate, in the context of suspected musculoskeletal abnormality, the contribution of musculoskeletal point of care ultrasonography to the general practitioner's overall decision-making strategy, defined according to the following 5 axes: diagnosis (I), therapy (II), patient orientation (III), prescription of complementary examinations (IV) and follow-up (V).

The study circuit takes place in a single visit.

1. The investigating physician suspects a musculoskeletal anomaly following an initial clinical examination.
2. The patient (who meets the inclusion criteria and has no non-inclusion criteria) gives consent to participate, after receiving information about the study.
3. The investigator fills in the e-CRF (appendix III), clinical examination, medical interrogation and his or her decisions according to the 5 axes, which cannot be modified, as the structure of the e-CRF planned in advance does not allow backtracking. The investigator performs the targeted musculoskeletal ultrasound with his or her personal ultrasound machine, following his or her usual operating procedure.
4. The investigator fills in the e-CRF with the results of the targeted ultrasound scan and indicates any modifications to the decision axes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Person who has received full information on the organization of the research and has given his/her consent
• Be over 18 years of age
• Present a symptomatology leading to suspicion of musculoskeletal pathology
• Be able to give consent
• Be affiliated to a social security scheme or benefit from such a scheme

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic inflammatory rheumatism (rheumatoid arthritis, spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid pseudo-polyarthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, lupus, etc.).
• Subjects benefiting from a legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship, safeguard of justice).
• Persons deprived of their liberty by judicial or administrative decision, persons under psychiatric care under articles L3212-1 and L3213-1.
• Pregnant women
• Nursing mothers