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Family Medicine Musculoskeletal (FM MSK)

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CURRICULUM

Review the curriculum to achieve IP certification

Earn CME credits at the same time via the MOC program

POCUS basics / Bases d'ÉCHO

All CPoCUS-certified Independent Practitioners (CPoCUS IPs) must be able to use the following controls on their ultrasound system:

Power:

Provides power to ultrasound machine. Ideally, all systems should be kept in sleep mode if there is a long start up time (i.e. longer than 30 seconds) so that there is always immediate PoCUS capability in emergency situations.

Depth:

Magnifies the area of interest and centers it in the vertical plane. The default for beginners is to maximize the depth for most scans (see detailed text for recommended starting depths for each specific scan). This control should be continually adjusted while scanning.

Gain:

Modifies the brightness on the screen and is used to ensure that the area of interest is clear enough to interpret correctly and to compensate for differences in tissue density and reflectivity as well as ultrasound artifacts. Should be continually adjusted while scanning.

Frequency:

Modifies the frequency of sound waves emitted from the ultrasound probe. Most modern ultrasound
systems will have variable frequency probes and allow the operator to change the probe frequency to one
of three settings:

  1. General mode for scanning most tissues (3.5 MHz for the curvilinear probe)
  2. Resolution mode for scanning near-surface structures or low-density tissues (5 MHz for the curvilinear probe)
  3. Penetration mode for scanning deeper structures or high-density tissues (2.5 MHz for the curvilinear probe)

M-mode:

Measures movement along a vertical line (from near field to far field) on the ultrasound screen and graphs this over time. May be used to measure fetal heart rate in first trimester scanning, to detect movement along the pleural line in pneumothorax scanning, and to help estimate fractional shortening in the sub-xiphoid cardiac scan. The use of this control is NOT required for CPoCUS CORE IP certification.

Exam presets:

Provides pre-determined optimal settings for specific scans. Used before starting a scan to optimize the ultrasound system for a specific type of scan, such as abdominal, cardiac, or lung. Although the use of appropriate exam presets will enhance the ultrasound images produced, use of this control is NOT required for CPoCUS certification.

Freeze:

Freezes the image on the screen to allow the operator to identify essential anatomy and perform other functions such as measurements.

Focus:

Optimizes lateral resolution by ‘bending’ the ultrasound beams closer to one another and thus increasing their ability to distinguish whether what appears to be a single object is really two objects side by side at the same depth. Focus is usually represented by a marker on the side of the screen (often a triangle) that can be moved either towards the near field or the far field. Some machines will automatically set the focus at the mid-point of the screen, emphasizing that one should always center the area of interest at the mid-point of the screen with the depth function. Placing the focus at the level of the area of interest should be standard practice to optimize lateral resolution.

Calipers:

Produces electronic markers (i.e. calipers) when the image is frozen. These can be placed in two locations on the screen to output the true body distance between the markers. Can be used to measure the diameter of the abdominal aorta, the length of the fetal pole, the width of the myometrial mantle and the size of other structures.

Cineloop:

Allows one to review several seconds of a scan, going back in time from the moment the freeze button was pushed. Most systems use a trackpad or trackball to scroll back and forth through images. This function is helpful to review essential anatomy and physiology, especially during very dynamic scans and with moving tissues (e.g. the heart).

Save image/video:

Allows the operator to save a still image as well as video clips of a scan. This function is particular to each ultrasound manufacturer, and the user manual should be consulted to learn how to perform this. Although image archiving and recording is not explicitly required for CPoCUS certification, it is often necessary for local or jurisdictional quality assurance or billing systems.

Accéder à la version française

Advanced skills for certification

Primary authors
Isabel Alonzo-Proulx
Jean-Michel Cérat
Geneviève Dallaire
Hugo Lamontagne

Editors
Geneviève Dallaire
Greg Hall
Troy Neufeld
Chau Pham
Aaron Webb
 
Publishing
Sharon Oleskevich

© Canadian Point of Care Ultrasound Society 2019
Reproduction or distribution without express written permission is prohibited

CERTIFY OTHERS

To certify others as a FM MSK Independent Practitioner (IP),
an examiner may submit an IP Request

only if:

The IP candidate has completed introductory training, acquired logged scans, and passed all three FM MSK examinations

and

The examiner is certified as a FM MSK Track Instructor or FM MSK Master Instructor in the modules relevant to the exams

If you cannot see the button below, you have not met the examiner certification criteria

SCAN DOCUMENTATION

The summary below is taken from the curriculum Determinate scan requirements and Certification for each module.

For all Prerequisites, the introductory scans do not count towards certification and do not need to be determinate.

For all Logged scan requirements, there is no requirement for a minimum number of positive scans.

*An ‘unassisted’ scan is one in which the learner generates a determinate image and uses appropriate troubleshooting maneuvers without ANY assistance (verbal or physical) from the instructor.

Dislocation

Dislocation-GHJ

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised GHJ scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 7 GHJ determinate scans supervised by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x  scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’*.

Dislocation-ACJ

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised ACJ scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 ACJ determinate scans supervised by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’*.

Effusion

Effusion-Elbow

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised elbow-olecranon fossa scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 elbow (olecranon fossa) determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Effusion-Wrist-RCJ

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised RCJ scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 wrist DR/RCJ determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted.*

Effusion-Hand-MCPJ+FTS

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised MCPJ / FTS scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 hand MCPJ/FTS determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Effusion-Hip

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised hip joint scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 hip joint determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Effusion-Knee-SPR

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised knee SPR scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 knee SPR determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Effusion-Ankle-Tibiotalar

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised ankle tibiotalar joint scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 ankle tibiotalar joint determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Effusion-Foot-MTPJ

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised First MTPJ scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 First MTPJ determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Tendon

Tendon-Shoulder-BCT

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised BCT scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 10 shoulder BCT determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Tendon-Shoulder-SSPT

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised SSPT scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 10 shoulder SSPT determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Tendon-Knee-QUT

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised QUT scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 knee QUT determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Tendon-Knee-PAT

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised PAT scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 knee PAT determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
    Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
    A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Tendon-Ankle-Achilles

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised Achilles scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5-7 Achilles determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Fracture

Fracture-Sternum

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised sternum scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 3 sternum determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Fracture-Ribs

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised rib scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 3-5 rib determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Fracture-Humerus

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised humeral shaft scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 3 humeral shaft determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Fracture-Wrist-DR

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised DR scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 5 wrist DR determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Fracture-Femur

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised femoral shaft scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 3 femoral shaft determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Soft tissue

Soft tissue-Layers

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised soft tissue layers scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 2-3 soft tissue layers determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

Fracture-Foreign body (FB)

Prerequisites

Appropriate didactic and practical introduction to technique that must include written materials covering all relevant ultrasound physics, anatomy and theory, a minimum of 30 minutes of live or on-line lectures, and at least 5 introductory supervised soft tissue FB scans.

Logged scan requirements

  • 1-2 soft tissue foreign body determinate scans supervised directly by a CPoCUS MSK Track Instructor for the entirety of the scan.
  • Determinate scans are defined in ‘Determinate scan requirements’.
  • A minimum of x scans (to be determined) must be done ‘unassisted’.*

MAINTAIN YOUR SKILLS
EARN CME CREDITS

Review the MSK curriculum
Earn CME credits at the same time

Activity description
Society
Credit category
Credits earned
Review the CPoCUS curriculum online
CFPC
Assessment: Review of learning materials
1 non-certified credit per hour of review
RCPSC
Section 2, Self-learning: Planned learning, Traineeship. Enter Session ID (see table 2).
2 credits per hour

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