Ultrasound shear wave elastography and its association with rotator cuff tear characteristics

Background: Approximately 20-60% of rotator cuff repairs fail with higher failure rates in patients with larger or more chronic tears. Although MRI provides an objective estimate of tear size, it can only provide qualitative descriptions of tear chronicity. By contrast, ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) may assess tear chronicity by estimating tissue mechanical properties (ie, shear modulus). Furthermore, SWE imaging does not share many of the challenges associated with MRI (eg, high cost, risk of claustrophobia). Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the extent to which estimated supraspinatus shear modulus is associated with conventional MRI-based measures of rotator cuff tear size and chronicity. Methods: Shear modulus was estimated using ultrasound SWE in two regions of the supraspinatus (intramuscular tendon, muscle belly) under two contractile conditions (passive, active) in 22 participants with full-thickness rotator cuff tears. The extent to which estimated supraspinatus shear modulus is associated with conventional MRI measures of tear size and chronicity was assessed using correlation coefficients and Kruskal-Wallis tests, as appropriate. Results: Estimated shear modulus was not significantly associated with anterior/posterior tear size (P \u3e .09), tear retraction (P \u3e .20), occupation ratio (P \u3e .11), or fatty infiltration (P \u3e .30) under any testing condition. Discussion: Although ultrasound SWE measurements have been shown to be altered in the presence of various tendinopathies, the findings of this study suggest the utility of ultrasound SWE in this population (ie, patients with a small to medium supraspinatus rotator cuff tear) before surgical rotator cuff repair remains unclear

Elbow Torque May be Predictive of Anatomic Adaptations to the Elbow After a Season of Collegiate Pitching: A Dynamic Ultrasound Study

Purpose: To determine whether elbow torque was associated with anatomic adaptations of the medial elbow following a season of competitive pitching. Methods: Pitchers from 3 collegiate baseball teams were recruited during the preseason for participation. Before the season, pitchers were recorded throwing 5 game-speed fastball pitches from a standard distance off a mound while wearing a wearable sensor baseball compression sleeve that calculates elbow torque, arm speed, arm slot, and arm rotation. Participants subsequently underwent dynamic ultrasound imaging of the medial elbow, including measurements of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and ulnohumeral joint space to assess elbow laxity. Following a full season of competitive pitching, all testing was repeated, and statistical analysis comparing preseason to postseason sonographic findings was performed. Results: Twenty-eight collegiate pitchers underwent preseason sonographic and kinematic testing. Nineteen pitchers were available for postseason testing. The average age (standard deviation) and playing experience was 19.9 (1.2) and 14.7 (1.5) years. Compared with preseason, there were significant increases in postseason UCL thickness (1.92 ± 0.09 vs 1.56 ± 0.09 mm, P \u3c .01) and elbow laxity (1.77 ± 0.23 vs 1.15 ± 0.22 mm, P = .028) after a season of pitching. No significant changes in pitching kinematic measurements were observed between preseason and postseason testing. Preseason pitching kinematic measurements were significantly associated with increased UCL thickness (arm slot: beta estimate -0.03 ± 0.01, P = .011) and reduction in elbow laxity (elbow torque: beta estimate -0.03 ± 0.01, P = .04) after a season of pitching. Pitchers with increased body weight and arm length demonstrated reduced medial elbow torque during pitching (P \u3c .05). Conclusions: After a season of competitive pitching, adaptive changes of the medial elbow were demonstrated on dynamic ultrasound. However, the influence of pitching kinematic measurements on these adaptations are of small magnitude and unknown clinical significance. Although wearable sensor technology may have value in trending individual pitcher kinematics, no discrete threshold appears to predict the development of adaptive changes at the elbow. Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective observational study

Ultrasound Imaging of Spine: State of the Art and Utility for Space Flight

Introduction: Ultrasound imaging (sonography) has been increasingly used for both primary diagnosis and monitoring of musculoskeletal injury, including fractures. In certain injuries, sonography has been shown to equal or surpass Magnetic Resonance Imaging in accuracy. Long-term exposure to reduced gravity may be expected to cause physiological and anatomical changes of the musculoskeletal system, which are not fully described or understood. In a limited-resource environment like space flight, sonography will likely remain the only imaging modality; therefore, further attention to its potential is warranted, including its ability to image anatomical deviations as well as irregularities of vertebrae and the spinal column. Methods: A thorough review of literature was conducted on the subject. A multipurpose ultrasound system was used to identify specific vertebrae, intervertebral disks, and other structures of the cervical spine in healthy volunteers, selected to represent various age, gender, and Body Mass Index (BMI) groups. Sonographic views were sought that would parallel radiographic views and signs used in the diagnosis of cervical spine injuries. Results: While using widely accepted radiographic signs of cervical spine injury, this sonographic protocol development effort resulted in successful identification of scanning planes and imaging protocols that could serve as alternatives for radiography. Some of these views are also applicable to diagnosing degenerative disk and bone disease, and other non-traumatic spine pathology. Strong, preliminary correlation has been demonstrated in a number of clinical cases between sonography and other imaging modalities. Conclusion: In the absence of radiography, sonography can be used to diagnose or rule out certain common types of cervical spine conditions including injury. Clinical validation of the findings appears to be realistic and would facilitate establishment of new sonographic protocols for special environments with lacking radiographic capability, such as human space flight

Soft tissue involvement, mediastinal pseudotumor, and venous thrombosis in pustulotic arthro-osteitis

A syndrome of hyperostosis of the thoracic wall, nonspecific signs of inflammatory disease, and palmar and plantar pustulosis is described in eight patients (Table 1). Seven had intersternocostoclavicular ossification [12], and one had chromic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis [2]. This complex of findings has been called “pustulotic arthro-osteitis” [5, 12]. This report emphasizes the periosseous soft tissue inflammation and the unexplained subclavian and mediastinal vein thrombosis seen in two patients [8]. Inflammatory periosseous and mediastinal lesions were seen on plain films in all eight patients and on computed tomographic (CT) scans in seven. Radiographs of the spine showed a spondyloarthropathy in three patients. This was characterized by ossification of the vertebral ligaments and sclerosis of the vertebral bodies. Awareness of the radiologic features of pustulotic arthro-osteitis is important because the clinical, biochemical and pathologic findings are often nonspecific and misleading [5, 8, 12].Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46791/1/256_2004_Article_BF00366761.pd

Sonographic and radiographic findings of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: a practical step forward

The purpose of this article is to describe the sonographic and radiographic findings in the diagnosis and treatment of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Ultrasound and radiographs play a crucial role in the diagnosis of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and in imaging the postoperative changes related to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Early detection and diagnosis of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is important in helping to prevent further progression of disease, obviating the need for more invasive and complex procedures

Advanced Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Techniques: What are the applications?

The purpose of this review was to cover technical advances in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound from the viewpoint of the user. The authors of this paper took a critical look at the vast expanse of recent literature and picked out what they judged to be real progress. In that judgement, they were guided by questions that remain unsolved in the realm of bone and joint imaging by ultrasound

Entrapment of the index finger radial collateral ligament in the metacarpophalangeal joint: A case report

Introduction: Digital collateral ligament injuries are common hand injuries that can cause significant pain and functional impairment. Ultrasonography can be useful in the evaluation of these ligamentous injuries, as it is both cost-effective and allows for easy, dynamic evaluation during imaging. Case report: We report a rare sonographic finding of an index finger radial collateral ligament injury that was found to have a flap of the ligament entrapped within the metacarpophalangeal joint, which to our knowledge has not been described previously. We correlate this finding with an intraoperative image of the entrapment of the collateral ligament. We also report on the novel application of superb microvascular imaging to aid in the diagnosis of digital collateral ligament injury. Discussion: This particular injury pattern has not been reported in the literature previously and likely explains the patient’s lack of improvement with nonoperative management. Our finding is similar to a Stener lesion seen in a thumb ulnar collateral ligament injury in which the ligament is unable to heal due to entrapment. In addition, using superb microvascular imaging (SMI), we were able to visualize hyperemia to surrounding structures and the ligament itself which suggested an acute injury. Conclusion: We anticipate that this case report will provide sonographers with knowledge and images of this specific injury pattern to the digital collateral ligaments

Peripheral polyneuropathy associated with COVID-19 in two patients: A musculoskeletal ultrasound case report

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads, we are encountering multiple different symptoms and related complications. Although the vast majority of literature is focused on its pulmonary manifestations, recent reports have mentioned neurologic manifestations but typically those related to the central nervous system and diagnosed utilizing magnetic resonance imaging. We present two cases of COVID-19-associated peripheral polyneuropathy diagnosed utilizing musculoskeletal ultrasound (US), which to our knowledge is the first such case report. US is an instrumental portable modality that can be used for COVID-19 patients in isolation. As this virus continues to spread, understanding and recognizing these COVID-19 related complications and their sonographic findings are crucial

Ulnar Collateral Ligament and Elbow Adaptations in High School Baseball Pitchers.

BACKGROUND: Baseball pitchers have adaptive changes in the soft tissues of the throwing elbow. HYPOTHESIS: High school baseball pitchers would show adaptive changes in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), such as calcifications and hypoechoic foci, thickening, and increased ulnohumeral joint laxity, on dynamic ultrasound (DUS). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. METHODS: Twenty-two asymptomatic high school pitchers, designated as their primary position by their coach, underwent DUS and physical examination of the throwing and nonthrowing elbows prior to the start of the season. UCL substance consistency and thickness, ulnohumeral joint space widening, and soft tissue elbow structures were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 16.9 years. Calcifications of the UCL were similar, being present in 7 of 22 (32%) throwing elbows versus 8 of 22 (36%) nonthrowing elbows (P = 0.11). UCL hypoechoic foci also were similar between elbows: 2 of 22 (9%) throwing elbows versus 0 of 22 nonthrowing elbows (P = 0.11). UCL thickness was also found to be similar in both elbows (throwing arm, 6.54 mm vs nonthrowing, 6.71 mm; P = 0.48). Ulnohumeral joint laxity unloaded (throwing arm, 3.13 mm vs nonthrowing, 3.17 mm; P = 0.835) and loaded (throwing arm, 3.87 mm vs nonthrowing arm, 4.11 mm; P = 0.30) was similar between elbows. Throwing elbows showed posteromedial olecranon spurring in 36%, effusions in 27%, and synovitis in 9%. CONCLUSION: High school pitchers show limited adaptive changes in the elbow, including UCL calcifications, hypoechoic foci, posteromedial olecranon spurring, and effusions. However, these changes are similar to those seen in the nonthrowing elbow, and these younger athletes lack findings seen in professional and collegiate pitchers such as UCL thickening and increased ulnohumeral joint space laxity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Preseason ultrasound examination of the high school pitching elbow lacks the adaptive changes to the elbow as seen in professional pitchers. These changes likely occur later in a pitcher\u27s career