K Finlay1, R Lee, L Friedman. 1. Department of Radiology, Henderson General Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for investigating scapholunate and lunatotriquetral ligamentous and triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) tears. Ultrasound findings were compared to conventional arthrogram findings, as the reference gold standard. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: In total 26 patients, 17 males and 9 females ranging in age from 17 to 35 (mean age, 34), were evaluated on referral for investigation of wrist pain. All patients were examined by high resolution ultrasound, using a 9-13 MHz transducer. All wrist ultrasound examinations were also compared to conventional tricompartmental arthrography, as the diagnostic gold standard reference. RESULTS: All ten scapholunate tears confirmed on arthrography were detected on ultrasound. Two of 8 lunatotriquetral and 7 of 11 TFC tears were correctly diagnosed on ultrasound. Sensitivity of ultrasound diagnosis ranged from 25% for lunatotriquetral tears to 100% for scapholunate tears. No false positive results were recorded for any of the three examined structures. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that sonography is accurate for scapholunate tears, but is not accurate for evaluation of lunate-triquetral tears. It has intermediate accuracy for triangular fibrocartilage tears.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for investigating scapholunate and lunatotriquetral ligamentous and triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) tears. Ultrasound findings were compared to conventional arthrogram findings, as the reference gold standard. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: In total 26 patients, 17 males and 9 females ranging in age from 17 to 35 (mean age, 34), were evaluated on referral for investigation of wrist pain. All patients were examined by high resolution ultrasound, using a 9-13 MHz transducer. All wrist ultrasound examinations were also compared to conventional tricompartmental arthrography, as the diagnostic gold standard reference. RESULTS: All ten scapholunate tears confirmed on arthrography were detected on ultrasound. Two of 8 lunatotriquetral and 7 of 11 TFC tears were correctly diagnosed on ultrasound. Sensitivity of ultrasound diagnosis ranged from 25% for lunatotriquetral tears to 100% for scapholunate tears. No false positive results were recorded for any of the three examined structures. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that sonography is accurate for scapholunate tears, but is not accurate for evaluation of lunate-triquetral tears. It has intermediate accuracy for triangular fibrocartilage tears.
Authors: Jon A Jacobson; Eugene Oh; Tim Propeck; Peter J L Jebson; David A Jamadar; Curtis W Hayes Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 2002-08 Impact factor: 3.959
Authors: Atsuya Watanabe; Felipe Souza; Peter S Vezeridis; Philip Blazar; Hiroshi Yoshioka Journal: Skeletal Radiol Date: 2009-12-10 Impact factor: 2.199