This article highlights the varied uses of ultrasound for detection of trauma to soft tissues. The emphasis is on the diagnosis of tendon and muscle disruptions. Detection of soft-tissue foreign bodies by ultrasound, an important recent innovation, is also reviewed. Miscellaneous potential applications of ultrasound for diagnosing meniscal injuries, cartilage integrity, epidermoid cysts, and traumatic vascular malformations are discussed briefly. Ultrasound is efficacious because of its low cost, noninvasiveness, wide availability, and accuracy.