Alessandro Schneebeli1, Filippo Del Grande2, Gabriele Vincenzo2, Corrado Cescon3, Ron Clijsen4,5,6, Fulvio Biordi7, Marco Barbero3. 1. Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Manno, Switzerland. alessandro.schneebeli@supsi.ch. 2. Servizio di Radiologia, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland. 3. Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Manno, Switzerland. 4. Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Landquart, Switzerland. 5. Thim van der Laan AG, University College Physiotherapy, Landquart, Switzerland. 6. Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. 7. ESAOTE S.p.A., Genoa, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To establish the test-retest reliability of sonoelastography (SE) on healthy Achilles tendons in contracted and relaxed states using an external reference system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight Achilles tendons from 24 healthy volunteers were assessed using ultrasound and real-time SE with an external reference material. Tendons were analyzed under relaxed and contracted conditions. Strain ratios between the tendons and the reference material were calculated. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2.k) and Bland-Altman plot were used to assess test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The reliability of SE measurements under relaxed conditions ranged from high to very high, with an ICC2.k of 0.84 (95 % CI: 0.64-0.92) for reference material, 0.91 (95 % CI: 0.83-0.95) for Achilles tendons and 0.95 (95 % CI: 0.91-0.97) for Kager fat pads (KFP). The ICC2.k value for skin was 0.30 (95 % CI: -0.26 to 0.61). Reliability for measurements in the contracted state ranged from high to very high, with an ICC2.k of 0.93 (95 % CI: 0.87-0.96) for reference material, 0.72 (95 % CI: 0.50-0.84) for skin, 0.93 (95 % CI: 0.87-0.96) for Achilles tendons, and 0.81 (95 % CI: 0.66-0.89) for KFP. Reliability of the strain ratio (tendon/reference) under relaxed conditions was high with an ICC2.k of 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.75-0.93), and in the contracted state, it was very high with an ICC2.k of 0.94 (95 % CI: 0.90-0.97). CONCLUSION: Sonoelastography using an external reference material is a reliable and simple technique for the assessment of the elasticity of healthy Achilles tendons. The use of an external material as a reference, along with strain ratios, could provide a quantitative measure of elasticity.
OBJECTIVE: To establish the test-retest reliability of sonoelastography (SE) on healthy Achilles tendons in contracted and relaxed states using an external reference system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight Achilles tendons from 24 healthy volunteers were assessed using ultrasound and real-time SE with an external reference material. Tendons were analyzed under relaxed and contracted conditions. Strain ratios between the tendons and the reference material were calculated. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2.k) and Bland-Altman plot were used to assess test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The reliability of SE measurements under relaxed conditions ranged from high to very high, with an ICC2.k of 0.84 (95 % CI: 0.64-0.92) for reference material, 0.91 (95 % CI: 0.83-0.95) for Achilles tendons and 0.95 (95 % CI: 0.91-0.97) for Kager fat pads (KFP). The ICC2.k value for skin was 0.30 (95 % CI: -0.26 to 0.61). Reliability for measurements in the contracted state ranged from high to very high, with an ICC2.k of 0.93 (95 % CI: 0.87-0.96) for reference material, 0.72 (95 % CI: 0.50-0.84) for skin, 0.93 (95 % CI: 0.87-0.96) for Achilles tendons, and 0.81 (95 % CI: 0.66-0.89) for KFP. Reliability of the strain ratio (tendon/reference) under relaxed conditions was high with an ICC2.k of 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.75-0.93), and in the contracted state, it was very high with an ICC2.k of 0.94 (95 % CI: 0.90-0.97). CONCLUSION: Sonoelastography using an external reference material is a reliable and simple technique for the assessment of the elasticity of healthy Achilles tendons. The use of an external material as a reference, along with strain ratios, could provide a quantitative measure of elasticity.
Authors: Tobias De Zordo; Christian Fink; Gudrun M Feuchtner; Vinzenz Smekal; Markus Reindl; Andrea Sabine Klauser Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 2009-08 Impact factor: 3.959
Authors: T De Zordo; R Chhem; V Smekal; G Feuchtner; M Reindl; C Fink; R Faschingbauer; W Jaschke; A S Klauser Journal: Ultraschall Med Date: 2009-11-27 Impact factor: 6.548
Authors: Alessandro Schneebeli; Ilaria Fiorina; Chandra Bortolotto; Marco Barbero; Deborah Falla; Corrado Cescon; Maria Vittoria Raciti; Francesco Tarantino; Lorenzo Preda Journal: Insights Imaging Date: 2021-02-17