What does “one view is no view” mean in MSK ultrasound?

“One view is no view” means you should always scan a structure in both short axis and long axis before making any conclusions.

One plane alone can be misleading. In short axis you can confirm you’re on the right structure, but you can’t judge continuity or fiber alignment. In long axis you can follow its length, but you may miss small changes off to the side. Some findings—partial tendon tears, small fluid pockets, or early nerve swelling—only show up when you compare both planes.

Scanning in two views lowers the chance of misinterpretation and gives you a more complete picture of the structure’s true condition.