Finn Johannsen1,2, Signe Jensen3, Sandra E Stallknecht4, Lars Otto Olsen3, S Peter Magnusson4. 1. Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. F.E.Johannsen@dadlnet.dk. 2. Furesø-Reumatologerne, Gammelgårdsvej 10, DK-3520, Farum, Denmark. F.E.Johannsen@dadlnet.dk. 3. Furesø-Reumatologerne, Gammelgårdsvej 10, DK-3520, Farum, Denmark. 4. Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine intra- and interobserver reliability and precision of sonographic (US) scanning in measuring thickness of the Achilles tendon, plantar fascia, and heel fat pad in patients with heel pain. METHODS: Seventeen consecutive patients referred with heel pain were included. Two evaluators blinded to the diagnosis performed independently US scanning of both feet without any dialogue with the patient. The examiner left the room, and the next examiner entered. All patients had two US scans performed by each examiner. Two months later, the US images were randomly presented to the evaluators for measurements. Reliability and agreement were assessed by calculation of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 95% limits of agreement (LOA), and typical error (TE). LOA was calculated as a percentage of the mean thickness of each structure to obtain a unitless parameter. RESULTS: We found excellent intratester reliability (ICC 0.78-0.98) and good intertester reliability using one measurement (ICC 0.72-0.91) and excellent (ICC 0.85-0.95) when using average of two measurements. The intratester agreements were good with LOA: 9.5-23.4% and TE: 3.4-8.4%. The intertester agreements were acceptable using one measurement with LOA: 16.1-36.4%, and better using two measurements with LOA: 14.4-33.2%. CONCLUSIONS: US is a reliable technique of measurement in the daily clinic, and one single measurement is sufficient. In research, we recommend that the same observer performs the US measurements, if one single scanning is preferred; if more researchers are involved, the average measurement of two US scans is recommended.
PURPOSE: To determine intra- and interobserver reliability and precision of sonographic (US) scanning in measuring thickness of the Achilles tendon, plantar fascia, and heel fat pad in patients with heel pain. METHODS: Seventeen consecutive patients referred with heel pain were included. Two evaluators blinded to the diagnosis performed independently US scanning of both feet without any dialogue with the patient. The examiner left the room, and the next examiner entered. All patients had two US scans performed by each examiner. Two months later, the US images were randomly presented to the evaluators for measurements. Reliability and agreement were assessed by calculation of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 95% limits of agreement (LOA), and typical error (TE). LOA was calculated as a percentage of the mean thickness of each structure to obtain a unitless parameter. RESULTS: We found excellent intratester reliability (ICC 0.78-0.98) and good intertester reliability using one measurement (ICC 0.72-0.91) and excellent (ICC 0.85-0.95) when using average of two measurements. The intratester agreements were good with LOA: 9.5-23.4% and TE: 3.4-8.4%. The intertester agreements were acceptable using one measurement with LOA: 16.1-36.4%, and better using two measurements with LOA: 14.4-33.2%. CONCLUSIONS: US is a reliable technique of measurement in the daily clinic, and one single measurement is sufficient. In research, we recommend that the same observer performs the US measurements, if one single scanning is preferred; if more researchers are involved, the average measurement of two US scans is recommended.
Authors: Finn E Johannsen; Robert B Herzog; Nikolaj M Malmgaard-Clausen; Maren Hoegberget-Kalisz; S Peter Magnusson; Michael Kjaer Journal: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc Date: 2018-11-15 Impact factor: 4.342
Authors: Finn Johannsen; Jens Lykkegaard Olesen; Tommy Frisgaard Øhlenschläger; Mathilde Lundgaard-Nielsen; Camilla Kjaer Cullum; Anna Svarre Jakobsen; Michael Skovdal Rathleff; Peter Stig Magnusson; Michael Kjær Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-07-01