Diagnostic performance of axial-strain sonoelastography in confirming clinically diagnosed Achilles tendinopathy: comparison with B-mode ultrasound and color Doppler imaging. | LitMetric
Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Imaging at Olympic Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Published: January 2015
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
This primary aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of axial-strain sonoelastography (ASE), B-mode ultrasound (US) and color Doppler US in confirming clinically symptomatic Achilles tendinopathy. The secondary aim was to establish the relationship between the strain ratio during sonoelastography and Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) scores. The VISA-A questionnaire is a validated clinical rating scale that evaluates the symptoms and dysfunction of the Achilles tendon. One hundred twenty Achilles tendons of 120 consecutively registered patients with clinical symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy and another 120 gender- and age-matched, asymptomatic Achilles tendons of 120 healthy volunteers were assessed with B-mode US, ASE and color Doppler US. Symptomatic patients had significantly higher strain ratio scores and softer Achilles tendon properties compared with controls (p < 0.001). The strain ratio was moderately correlated with VISA-A scores (r = -0.62, p < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of B-mode US, ASE and color Doppler US in confirming clinically symptomatic Achilles tendinopathy was 94.7%, 97.8% and 82.5% respectively. There was excellent correlation between the clinical reference standard and the grade of tendon quality on ASE (κ = 0.91, p < 0.05), compared with B-mode US (κ = 0.74, p < 0.05) and color Doppler imaging (κ = 0.49, p < 0.05). ASE is an accurate clinical tool in the evaluation of Achilles tendinopathy, with results comparable to those of B-mode US and excellent correlation with clinical findings. The strain ratio may offer promise as a supplementary tool for the objective evaluation of Achilles tendon properties.
Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of adding radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy or sham to exercise for people with insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
Design: A two-armed, parallel-group, explanatory, single-centre, randomised controlled trial within a superiority framework.
Physiotherapy Department, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Objectives: Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is a common and disabling condition. This trial aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a parallel group randomised trial to evaluate the efficacy of heel lifts compared to a sham intervention for reducing pain intensity associated with insertional Achilles tendinopathy.
Methods: Twenty-six people with insertional Achilles tendinopathy were randomised to either the heel lift group or sham intervention group.
Background: Tendinopathy is very common in clinical practice, which is highly prevalent in athletes, sports enthusiasts and other people involved in high-load weight-bearing activities. Common types of tendinopathy include rotator cuff injury, Achilles tendinitis, tennis elbow and so on. Macrophages (Macs) are key immune cells in the pathogenesis of tendinopathy.
: Achilles and hamstring tendinopathies are common injuries in runners, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) may be an effective treatment. Runners are at risk for lower extremity tendinopathies and the Male and Female Athlete Triad (Triad). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association of sex, exposure to hormonal contraceptives, menopause, and Triad-related risk factors with ESWT outcomes in the treatment of Achilles and hamstring tendinopathy.
Introduction: There is a clear roadmap for the treatment of primary insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT), but data on the outcome of revision surgery is missing. The current study aimed to analyze the outcome following revision surgery for surgically failed IAT.
Material And Methods: Included were patients with IAT revision surgery at a single reference center (01/2010-10/2016) and a follow-up of at least 12 months.
