TY - JOUR
T1 - Interrater and Intrarater Reliability of Musculoskeletal Ultrasonographic Findings for the Common Extensor Tendon of the Elbow
AU - Patel, Vikas
AU - Esfahani, Ali
AU - Ahmadi, Roozbeh
AU - Forney, Michael
AU - Apiafi, Mary
AU - King, Dominic
AU - Genin, Jason
N1 - Funding Information:
We gratefully acknowledge Isaac Briskin for his assistance with the statistical analysis and Brittany Stojsavljevic for editorial management. The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Objectives: This retrospective case study evaluated the interrater and intrarater reliability of seven common extensor tendon pathologic features on musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSK-US). Materials and Methods: A cohort of 50 patients were imaged due to presenting with atraumatic nonradicular lateral elbow pain. Three experienced and two novice readers rated the images on two separate occasions, and AC1 and kappa coefficients were calculated for each feature. Results: The interrater reliability was fair with respect to fascial thickening/scarring (AC1 = 0.26), tearing (AC1 = 0.35), tendon thickening (AC1 = 0.38), and intratendinous calcification (AC1 = 0.33); substantial for enthesophytes (AC1 = 0.80); and near complete for hyperemia (AC1 = 0.83) and hypoechogenicity (AC1 = 0.92). Intrarater reliability was moderate for fascial thickening/scarring (κ = 0.48), tearing (κ = 0.41), tendon thickening (0.47), intratendinous calcification (κ = 0.56), and hypoechogenicity (κ = 0.47); substantial for hyperemia (κ = 0.71); and almost perfect for enthesophytes (κ = 0.86). Conclusion: MSK-US may be a reliable tool to determine soft tissue changes in common extensor tendon pathology.
AB - Objectives: This retrospective case study evaluated the interrater and intrarater reliability of seven common extensor tendon pathologic features on musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSK-US). Materials and Methods: A cohort of 50 patients were imaged due to presenting with atraumatic nonradicular lateral elbow pain. Three experienced and two novice readers rated the images on two separate occasions, and AC1 and kappa coefficients were calculated for each feature. Results: The interrater reliability was fair with respect to fascial thickening/scarring (AC1 = 0.26), tearing (AC1 = 0.35), tendon thickening (AC1 = 0.38), and intratendinous calcification (AC1 = 0.33); substantial for enthesophytes (AC1 = 0.80); and near complete for hyperemia (AC1 = 0.83) and hypoechogenicity (AC1 = 0.92). Intrarater reliability was moderate for fascial thickening/scarring (κ = 0.48), tearing (κ = 0.41), tendon thickening (0.47), intratendinous calcification (κ = 0.56), and hypoechogenicity (κ = 0.47); substantial for hyperemia (κ = 0.71); and almost perfect for enthesophytes (κ = 0.86). Conclusion: MSK-US may be a reliable tool to determine soft tissue changes in common extensor tendon pathology.
KW - common extensor tendon
KW - elbow
KW - lateral epicondylitis
KW - musculoskeletal ultrasound
KW - tendinopathy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105962064&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85105962064&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/87564793211005743
DO - 10.1177/87564793211005743
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85105962064
SN - 8756-4793
VL - 37
SP - 328
EP - 335
JO - Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
JF - Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
IS - 4
ER -