Evaluation of current symptoms in postoperative achilles tendons: A multimodal ultrasound study

Nunes P, Fuss B, Dirrichs T, Tingart M, Quack V, Gatz M, Betsch M (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Healthcare MDPI

Book Volume: 9

Article Number: 288

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9030288

Abstract

(1) Background: It is unknown which imaging parameters are associated with clinical persistent symptoms in postoperative Achilles tendons. This study used B-Mode, Power Doppler (PDUS), Ultrasound Tissue Characterization (UTC) and ShearWave Elastography (SWE) to investigate which imaging parameters are associated with persistent symptoms in postoperative Achilles tendon tissue. (2) Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional, multimodal imaging study. Based on the VISA-A score, postoperative tendons were assigned to two groups: 1. asymptomatic (VISA-A ≤ 90, n = 18); 2. symptomatic (VISA-A < 90, n = 10). The following imaging parameters were analyzed: UTC (echo type I, II, III, IV), B-Mode (diameter, cross sectional area, calcification, fiber irregularity), PD-US (Öhberg score) and SWE (SWE 3 mm, SWE area) using a t-test and a Mann-Whitney U test. (3) Results: SWE and PD-US showed significantly reduced elasticity and increased neovascularization in symptomatic tendons (SWE 3 mm p = 0.031, SWE area p = 0.046, Öhberg score p < 0.001). The only significant correlation between imaging parameters and the VISA-A score was assessed for SWE 3 mm (r = 0.378; p = 0.047) and the Öhberg score (r = -0.737; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Symptomatic postoperative Achilles tendons showed increased neovascularization and lower SWE values than asymptomatic ones. Future studies should examine the diagnostic accuracy of PD-US and SWE in detecting current symptoms in postoperative Achilles tendons.

Authors with CRIS profile

Marcel Betsch

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Aachen (UKA) DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Mannheim DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Nunes, P., Fuss, B., Dirrichs, T., Tingart, M., Quack, V., Gatz, M., & Betsch, M. (2021). Evaluation of current symptoms in postoperative achilles tendons: A multimodal ultrasound study. Healthcare, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030288

MLA:

Nunes, Priscila, et al. "Evaluation of current symptoms in postoperative achilles tendons: A multimodal ultrasound study." Healthcare 9.3 (2021).

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