Traumatic or spontaneous hemarthroses are an important cause of joint effusions, and can complicate innate or acquired coagulopathies. The elbow is an unusual location for a spontaneous hemarthrosis; we describe a previously unreported case of warfarin-induced spontaneous elbow hemarthrosis, diagnosed by point-of-care ultrasound. On the basis of clinical and ultrasound findings arthrocentesis was deferred, and the patient was successfully treated with warfarin reversal and conservative care. Physical examination is unreliable for the detection of a joint effusion, and misdiagnosis and can lead to unnecessary investigation or resource use. Point-of-care ultrasound allows accurate, prompt, direct visualization of a joint effusion, and non-invasive confirmation of a hemarthrosis. Ultrasound can facilitate accurate diagnosis and characterization of joint effusions to improve the care of patients with coagulopathy.
Arthrocentesis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Elbow* ; Hemarthrosis* ; Humans ; Joints ; Physical Examination ; Point-of-Care Systems* ; Ultrasonography* ; Warfarin

Dural sinus thrombosis (DST), or cerebral venous thrombosis, is an uncommon cause of stroke. It has a variable presentation, and the symptoms and signs can be non-specific. The diagnosis of DST can be difficult to make and is often delayed or missed. Computed tomography venography or magnetic resonance venography are the typical imaging modalities used to diagnose DST. However, computed tomography venography and magnetic resonance venography both have limitation for emergency department patients. In this article, we report the use of point-of-care ultrasound to facilitate the diagnosis of DST.
Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Phlebography ; Point-of-Care Systems* ; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial* ; Stroke ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography* ; Venous Thrombosis

Point of care ultrasound is an important tool for diagnosis of musculoskeletal and vascular pathology in patients presenting to the emergency department. Superficial vascular and soft tissue structures are well-visualized at the bedside using modern ultrasound systems and have image characteristics that can be rapidly identified. This report describes the use of point of care ultrasound to distinguish between rapidly progressive soft tissue infection and vascular injury following penetrating trauma from a cat scratch. Ultrasound allowed the physician to rapidly make accurate decisions about the next necessary steps in the patient’s care. Point of care ultrasound provides immediate diagnostic information to supplement indeterminate physical examination findings. In this case, it allowed the treating physician to make the diagnosis of arterial injury using ultrasound image characteristics. An integrative approach to ultrasonography of superficial musculoskeletal and vascular structures could enhance clinical decision making and improve care of patients with similar complaints.