Association of real-time sonoelastography findings with clinical parameters in lateral epicondylitis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of real-time sonoelastography (RTSE) in patients with lateral epicondylitis (LE) and whether it is associated with clinical parameters. Seventeen patients with unilateral LE were enrolled in the study. The healthy elbows of the participants constituted the control group. Using B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasound, and RTSE, we prospectively examined 34 common extensor tendon elbows of 17 patients. Both color scales and strain ratio were used for evaluating RTSE images. Two radiologists evaluated the RTSE images separately. Elbow pain was scored on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Symptom duration and the presence of nocturnal pain were questioned. Quick disabilities of arm shoulder and hand (DASH) Questionnaire was applied to assess the pain, function, and disability. Nottingham health profile (NHP) was used to determine and quantify perceived health problems. Both color scales and strain ratios of the affected tendon portions were significantly different from that of healthy tendons (p < 0.001). There was no significant association between NHP, VAS, Quick DASH scores, and color scales and strain ratio. Strain ratio of the medial portion of the affected tendon was significantly correlated with symptom duration (rho = -0.61 p = 0.010) and nocturnal pain (rho = 0.522 p = 0.031). Interobserver agreement was substantial for color scales (κ = 0.74, p = 0.001) and strain ratio (ICC = 0.61, p = 0.031). RTSE may facilitate differentiation between healthy and affected elbows as a feasible and practical supplementary method with substantial interobserver agreement. RTSE was superior to B-mode ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound in discriminating tendons with LE. Strain ratio of the medial portion of the tendon is associated moderately with nocturnal pain and symptom duration. No other associations were present between RTSE findings and clinical or functional parameters.

Diagnostic Performance of Superb Microvascular Imaging and Other Sonographic Modalities in the Assessment of Lateral Epicondylosis

“…In a study performed by Kocyigit et al, strain elastographic and color Doppler techniques were reported to show similar findings in the common extensor tendon. In our study, we detected a significant correlation between SMI grading and the strain ratio.…”

“…Lateral epicondylosis is a disorder that usually causes lateral elbow pain and has an estimated prevalence between 1% and 3% . The condition is diagnosed clinically on the basis of history and physical examination results .…”

Investigation of Biomechanical Characteristics of Intact Supraspinatus Tendons in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

“…6 A recent research on RTSE findings of lateral epicondylitis reported that both color scaling and strain ratio measurements were superior to B-mode US according to area under the ROC curve analysis. 14 We also conducted area under the ROC curve analysis for RTSE parameters. We documented that both color scaling and strain ratios of the supraspinatus tendon were excellent in discriminating healthy from involved shoulders in patients with SIS.…”

Real-time sonoelastography: principles and clinical applications in tendon disorders.

“…Authors reported good correlation between SE and US and also a positive correlation with functional scores 27 . Furthermore, a better capability of SE in detecting early changes compared with US and Doppler was observed 35,65. The sensitivity of SE was 100%, the specificity 89%, and the accuracy 94%, with clinical examination as the reference standard 62 .…”