Intra- und interobserver Variabilität sonografischer Untersuchungen an Patella- und Achillessehnen

Abstract

Our results suggest that the measurement of AT- and PT-a.p. -diameters is a reliable parameter. In contrast, reproducibility of AT- and PT-m.l.-diameters is questionable. The study corroborates the presence of hypoechogenicity and neovascularisation in asymptomatic tendons.

Physiological Tendon Thickness Adaptation in Adolescent Elite Athletes: A Longitudinal Study

“…Furthermore, measurement location of thickness parameters is assumed to be of high relevance when interpreting physiological tendon adaptation by thickness, especially during maturation. According to prior sonographic reliability studies thickness parameters were used at presented sites instead of width or CSA-measurements (Fredberg et al, 2008 ; Cassel et al, 2012 ). For ATs, a second measurement location (thickest part in midportion) was chosen to consider possible length changes due to maturation.…”

“…PT examinations were carried out in a supine position with 30° knee flexion, controlled by use of a soft pad. As previously described, both ATs and PTs were longitudinally examined to determine tendon diameters at a reference point 2 cm proximal to the calcaneal insertion (AT 2 cm) and 2 cm distal the Patella (PT 2 cm), respectively (Cassel et al, 2012 , 2016 ). Tendon thickness was reported to be reliably measureable at these standardized locations (Schmidt et al, 2004 ; Fredberg et al, 2008 ).…”

“…Tendon thickness was reported to be reliably measureable at these standardized locations (Schmidt et al, 2004 ; Fredberg et al, 2008 ). Moreover, the diameter at the thickest part of the AT “mid-portion” was measured (AT max) (Cassel et al, 2012 , 2016 ). Longitudinal scans were performed by a strict orthogonal placement of the transducer on ATs and PTs in order to measure “true tendon thickness”, excluding epitenon and paratenon.…”

“…For the early detection of initial pathological changes normative values of physiological tendon thickness in athletes are required. Physiological AT diameter in adults has been reported to be 4–6 mm, while values of the patellar tendon thickness were observed between 3 and 5 mm, depending on measurement location (Schmidt et al, 2004 ; Fredberg et al, 2008 ; Hirschmüller et al, 2010 ; Cassel et al, 2012 ). Cross-sectional data among young adolescent athletes and non-athletes showed AT and PT thickness to be already on adult elite athletes' level (Cassel et al, 2016 ).…”

Evaluation of Achilles and patellar tendinopathy with greyscale ultrasound and colour Doppler: using a four-grade scale

“…Several studies of inter‐observer reliability, using different methods when evaluating the severity of sonographically visible pathology, have been published [4, 8, 12, 35]. To our knowledge though, only one investigation has evaluated the use of a 4‐grade scale—similar to the Öhberg score—for neovascularisation [35], while in that study, power Doppler (PD) instead of colour Doppler (CD) was used.…”