Hand & Wrist Ultrasound, Cardiff & South Wales
Self-refer. Consultant-led. Results explained at your appointment.
hand & wrist scan
What's included
- ✓Consultant Radiologist scan, with findings explained as they go
- ✓Written report within 24-48 hours
- ✓Digital scan images
- ✓Onward referral if needed
- ✓No GP referral required
The hand & wrist
Dynamic ultrasound of the tendons, nerves, ligaments and small joints of the hand and wrist, with the fingers moving as we scan.
Median nerve
Carpal tunnel syndrome at the wrist.
Flexor tendons
Trigger finger and tenosynovitis.
Extensor tendons
De Quervain's at the thumb side.
Wrist joints
Effusion, synovitis and arthritis.
Finger joints
Signs of inflammatory arthritis.
Ligaments
Including the thumb UCL, or skier's thumb.
Ganglion cysts
The commonest wrist lump.
Any lump
Characterisation of a hand or wrist lump.
Reasons to book a hand or wrist scan
What we can identify
Ultrasound is excellent for the hand and wrist, where the structures sit close to the surface and can be watched moving in real time.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
A swollen median nerve at the wrist, the commonest nerve entrapment.
Trigger finger
Thickening of the flexor tendon and its pulley.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis
Inflamed thumb tendons on the radial side of the wrist.
Ganglion cysts
Fluid-filled lumps, front or back of the wrist.
Inflammatory arthritis
Early synovitis and erosions, often before an X-ray shows anything.
Thumb ligament tears
Skier's thumb, the UCL injury of the thumb.
Carpal tunnel, trigger finger, De Quervain's and ganglions can often be treated with an ultrasound-guided injection in the same visit.
Preparation
How to prepare
No special preparation. Short sleeves help, as we need access to the wrist and forearm as well as the hand.
If a particular movement brings on your symptoms, be ready to show us. Watching the problem happen helps us pinpoint it.
Your appointment, step by step
Arrive
Free street parking at Penarth, and a 5-minute walk from Penarth railway station.
Meet your consultant
A short chat about your symptoms, which fingers are affected and what makes it worse. Ask anything you like.
The scan (30 mins)
Your hand rests on the couch or a small cushion. Warm gel goes on, and the consultant asks you to bend and straighten the fingers so tendons and nerves can be seen moving.
Results on the day
The consultant explains the findings while scanning and again at the end, so you leave knowing what is going on. The written report follows within 24-48 hours.
Had been waiting ages on the NHS to get a scan... so when I saw this service available on the high street I was surprised. Scan was organised for the same week, totally worth it. Actually got a diagnosis for once. Dr Junaid was very thorough and explained everything.
Transparent, all-inclusive
One price for one hand or wrist. If both are affected, we scan them in the same appointment for £360.
Hand or wrist scan
- ✓One side £260, both sides £360
- ✓Results explained on the day, written report in 24-48 hrs
- ✓Same-week appointment
- ✓No GP referral required
2 area scan
- ✓Two body areas scanned in one visit
- ✓e.g. hand & wrist plus the elbow or forearm
- ✓Save £160 vs two separate scans
- ✓Same-week appointment
3 area scan
- ✓Three body areas scanned in one visit
- ✓Add which areas in your booking notes
- ✓Save £381 vs three separate scans
- ✓Same-week appointment
Booking a two or three-area scan? Please add which areas you'd like scanned in your booking notes. Not all practitioners scan every area, so our reception may call to confirm and make sure the right consultant is on for your appointment.
All prices include consultation, scan, written report, digital images and any onward referral if required. Injections are charged separately.
Our Penarth clinic
Patients travel to us from Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Vale.
Common questions about hand & wrist ultrasound
How much does a private hand and wrist ultrasound cost?
£260 for one side, £360 for both sides in the same appointment.
Can ultrasound diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome?
Yes. Ultrasound measures the median nerve at the wrist and shows the swelling that points to carpal tunnel syndrome. It also rules out other causes of the same symptoms.
Do I need a GP referral?
No, this is a self-referral scan. You can book online.
Can you diagnose trigger finger?
Yes. We see the thickened flexor tendon and its pulley, and can watch the catching happen as you move the finger. An injection can follow in the same visit.
How long does the scan take?
About 30 minutes per side.
Can ultrasound detect early arthritis?
Yes. It is very sensitive to early synovitis and small erosions, often before they appear on an X-ray, which is useful when rheumatoid arthritis is suspected.
Ultrasound or MRI for the hand?
Ultrasound is excellent for tendons, nerves and the small joints, and it shows them moving. MRI is better for bone and for the deeper wrist structures. Most people start with ultrasound.
Can I get an injection at the same visit?
Often yes. We inject the carpal tunnel, trigger fingers, De Quervain's and ganglions under ultrasound guidance. There is a separate charge, listed on our injection therapy page.
Is ultrasound safe?
Yes. There is no radiation involved.
Can you drain or treat a ganglion?
Some ganglions can be aspirated under ultrasound guidance. We will tell you on the day whether yours is suitable.
Will I get a written report?
Yes. The findings are explained at your appointment, and a written consultant report follows within 24-48 hours.
Where do I go?
Acorn Private Clinic at Penarth (CF64 2AD), 10 minutes from Cardiff city centre.
Get the answers you need.
Self-refer for a private hand and wrist ultrasound. Consultant-led, same-week, with results explained at your appointment and a written report within 24-48 hours. £260 all-inclusive.