High reproducibility of patellar tendon vascularity assessed by colour Doppler ultrasonography: a reliable measurement tool for quantifying tendon pathology

Abstract

Background: This study examined whether patellar tendon vascularity could be quantified accurately in the clinical setting using colour Doppler ultrasonography. Methods: A sonographer and two radiologists visually estimated tendon vascularity in millimetres in 74 tendons during ultrasound (US) examination and from hard copy films. These estimates were then compared to the length of vessels measured from the digital image in millimetres and the correlation between them was determined. A subset of 16 tendons was used to compare the estimates of vascularity by two examiners at US examination. Results: The estimation of vascular length at US examination correlated highly with the measured vascular length (r = 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87 to 0.94), as did the length estimated from the films (r = 0.94; 95% CI 0.9 to 0.96). The correlation between examiners was 0.84 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.94) for the estimates made during US examination and 0.85 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.95) for the vessel lengths measured from the digital images. Conclusions: These excellent correlations indicate that tendon vascularity can be reliably estimated using colour Doppler ultrasonography and tendon vascularity could therefore be used by clinicians to rate clinical change. This method of quantifying tendon vascularity could also be used in research to investigate the effects of tendon treatments on vascularity.

Prevalence of morphological and mechanical stiffness alterations of mid Achilles tendons in asymptomatic marathon runners before and after a competition

“…Runners with VISA-A scores less than 80 were also considered symptomatic [20]. The B-mode US (hypoechogenicities) and SE changes that were evident in both the longitudinal and transverse planes (with dimension measured more than 1 mm in either planes) were documented and graded according to previously validated criteria listed in Table 1 [14,21,22]. Grades 2 and 3 were defined as pathologic tendons for all imaging modes.…”

Doppler ultrasonography of the anterior knee tendons in elite badminton players: colour fraction before and after match

“…With power or colour Doppler, areas with increased blood flow may be found, and the amount of colour may be quantified 19 23 24. This is used in disorders where hyperaemia is an integral part of the condition—arthritis, bursitis, epicondylitis and tendonitis.…”

Anterior knee symptoms after double-bundle ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon autografts: an ultrasonographic and power Doppler investigation

“…Abnormal blood flow can be observed in several clinical situations [27,28]. Some studies have shown that intratendinous flow is associated with symptomatic patellar and Achilles tendinopathy, which supports monitoring tendon neovascularization as a diagnostic indicator of critical situations [5]. To our knowledge, this study is the first to utilize ultrasound evaluation of blood flow in the IFP, although the exact mechanism underlying the increased blood flow requires further investigation.…”