Quantitative Ultrasound Assessment of the Achilles Tendon Under Varied Loads

Abstract

This Institutional Review Board-approved pilot study attempted to detect the correlation between ultrasound shear wave elastographic measures and tendon loads. Five male fresh-frozen cadaveric Achilles tendons were loaded in 10-N increments from 0 to 60 N. Shear wave velocity measurements within each Achilles tendon were obtained at each load in longitudinal and transverse orientations. Shear wave velocity measurements were correlated with tendon tension on both longitudinal and transverse plane imaging and showed moderate and strong positive correlation coefficients, respectively. Of note, limitations of the clinically available shear wave elastographic technology for measuring high velocities exist.

Updates in Musculoskeletal Imaging

“…Several studies have correlated SWE measurements in muscle and tendon to biomechanical tissue properties. 49,69 There are numerous studies characterizing tendinopathy with SWE ( Figure 1). 5,15,19 Others have correlated symptom scores for tendinopathy to SWE measures, with some showing better correlation with SWE than conventional ultrasound techniques.…”

Glenohumeral joint capsular tissue tension loading correlates moderately with shear wave elastography: a cadaveric investigation

“…Similar correlation values between B-mode ultrasonography and durometer measurements were reported in muscle tissue [38], indicating that both modalities measure different parameters that are closely related to the modulus of elasticity. Achilles tendon tensile loads and SWE have been moderately correlated under progressive loads [39]. In the current study, the 5-kg tensile load resulted in a moderate negative correlation between the durometer and SWE measurements; these results should be viewed with caution due to tissue thinness, inconsistencies in the location of the durometer and SWE measurement locations, and SWE saturation levels at the 5-kg tensile load.…”

Actualización científica en ecografía y tendinopatía aquilea. Implicaciones anatómicas relacionadas, abordaje terapéutico y nuevas perspectivas basadas en la evidencia

“…Respecto al tendón de Aquiles, Femmo-Brouwer y cols. 64 mostraron resultados excelentes de fiabilidad intra e interobservador para la medición de la longitud del tendón de Aquiles desde la unión miotendinosa distal medial hasta la inserción en el calcáneo mediante el uso de la ecografía panorámica. Sin embargo, se reportaron mejores resultados cuando la medición se hacía mediante marcadores cutáneos.…”