Comparison of Clinical Joint Localization and Ultrasound-Confirmed Joint Positioning

NCT07406672 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2026-PMR-3
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This prospective, cross-sectional observational study aims to evaluate the differences between joint localizations determined by physicians based on physical examination and joint positions confirmed by musculoskeletal ultrasound. Knee, elbow, ankle, and wrist joints will be assessed in volunteer physicians working in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Orthopedics and Traumatology. For each joint, participants will identify the joint space based on physical examination and the marked locations will be compared with ultrasound-confirmed joint positions. The distance between clinically determined and ultrasound-confirmed locations will be measured in millimeters. The study seeks to provide objective data on the accuracy of clinical joint localization and to support educational approaches in clinical anatomy and musculoskeletal examination training.

Conditions

Musculoskeletal System; Physical Examination

Keywords

Ultrasonography; Musculoskeletal Ultrasound; Clinical Anatomy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Distance Between Clinically Determined and Ultrasound-Confirmed Joint Localization

  The distance, measured in millimeters, between the joint location identified by physical examination and the joint position confirmed by musculoskeletal ultrasound.

  Day 1

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Joint-Specific Differences in Localization Accuracy

  Day 1

• Effect of Physician Experience on Joint Localization Accuracy

  Day 1

Study Arms (1)

Physician Participants

Volunteer physicians working as residents or specialists in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation or Orthopedics and Traumatology who undergo clinical joint localization assessment and ultrasound confirmation.

Other: Observational Assessment

Interventions

Observational Assessment OTHER

No therapeutic or diagnostic intervention is applied. Participants undergo an observational assessment consisting of physical examination-based joint localization followed by ultrasound confirmation for measurement and comparison purposes only.

Physician Participants

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of adult physician volunteers recruited from a tertiary care hospital. Participants are licensed medical doctors who participate as reference subjects for joint localization. Each participant is asked to indicate the anatomical location of selected joints (knee, elbow, ankle, and wrist), which is subsequently assessed by physical examination and confirmed using ultrasound imaging within the scope of this observational study.

You may qualify if:

• Physicians working as residents or specialists in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation or Orthopedics and Traumatology
• Age 18 years or older
• Voluntary participation with written informed consent
• Ability to perform physical examination-based joint localization

You may not qualify if:

• Refusal to participate or provide written informed consent
• Any condition preventing completion of physical examination procedures
• Non-compliance with the study protocol

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bursa City Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bursa City Hospital

Bursa, Türkiye, 16600, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2026
• First Posted: February 12, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2026
• Study Completion: April 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

TU (1)