Diagnostic and interventional ultrasound imaging of the spine

This comprehensive 2-day hands-on course teaches diagnostic and interventional ultrasound skills for spinal imaging and injection procedures. Delivered by expert faculty including anesthesiologists, sports medicine physicians, and allied health professionals, the course covers cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacroiliac spine assessment and treatment.

The course combines an included 11-hour on-demand eLearning component (6-month access from course start date) with intensive practical training. Participants learn standardized scanning techniques, 3-dimensional sonoanatomy, pathology recognition, needle visualization, and interventional injection procedures. The hands-on element is delivered over 2 days (14 hours total) with maximum three participants per ultrasound machine and a high tutor-to-participant ratio, using soft embalmed bodies to provide realistic clinical experience.

Content covers:
• Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacroiliac spine scanning protocols and anatomy
• Facet joints, medial branches, nerve roots, and neuroforamen visualization
• Epidural, caudal, and plexus approaches
• Sonopathology and pitfall recognition
• Safe needle placement and injection techniques
• Clinical decision-making in spinal injection therapy

The course is held at Amsterdam Skills Centre, a state-of-the-art facility at Amsterdam Medical University. Participants must have completed a foundational MSK ultrasound course beforehand; prior experience with ultrasound-guided peripheral joint injections is also recommended. Upon completion, participants receive a SonoSkills Certificate of Attendance and CME proof. This course is ideal for radiologists, GPs, sport medicine doctors, rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, pain specialists, and allied health professionals seeking to develop advanced diagnostic and interventional spine ultrasound skills.