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Validation of Fixed Ultrasonography for Achilles Tendon Assessment: A Reliability Study
Raquel Alabau-Dasi1, Gabriel Dominguez-Maldonado2,3, Ana Belen Ortega-Avila1,4
1Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Departamento de Enfermería y Podología, Universidad de Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 16, 2024
Summary
Fixed ultrasound offers highly reliable Achilles tendon thickness measurements, even under load and with different operators. This method enhances diagnostic accuracy and surgical planning for tendon pathologies.
Area of Science:
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
- Biomechanics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Ultrasound is advantageous for non-invasive, dynamic assessment of muscles and tendons.
- Evaluating tendon anisotropy via ultrasound presents challenges due to collagen fiber arrangement.
- This study validates fixed ultrasound against manual acquisition for Achilles tendon thickness measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the reliability of fixed ultrasound for Achilles tendon thickness measurement.
- To compare fixed ultrasound with manual acquisition methods.
- To assess measurement reliability across different operators and conditions.
Main Methods:
- Twenty participants (6 men, 14 women) underwent Achilles tendon thickness measurements.
- Ultrasound was used at 4 cm and 6 cm from the calcaneal insertion.
- Measurements were performed by experienced and inexperienced examiners, manually and with fixed ultrasound, at rest and under load (weight-bearing, dorsiflexion).
Main Results:
- Excellent reliability (ICC > 0.99) was observed for all measurements.
- Reliability remained high for manual acquisition (α = 0.996-0.998) and fixed ultrasound at rest (α = 0.997).
- Measurements under weight-bearing and dorsiflexion showed perfect reliability (α = 0.999-1.000).
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound measurements of Achilles tendon thickness demonstrate excellent reliability, irrespective of evaluator or load conditions.
- Assessing anatomical structures under load enhances ultrasound's clinical utility beyond the examination table.
- Fixed ultrasound acquisition provides reliable Achilles tendon thickness measurements, aiding diagnosis, surgical planning, and reducing operator variability.
