Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 20, Issue 5 459-464, Copyright © 2001 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Can the dimensions of artificial tendon lesions be predicted ultrasonographically? A cadaveric study

P. Kovacs, H. Behensky, C. Lottersberger, G. Bodner, E. Brenner and B. Moriggl
Institute of Anatomy and Histology, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Austria.

OBJECTIVE: To prove the reliable assessment of artificial partial tendon lesions in cadavers. METHODS: The tendon of the tibialis anterior muscle was cut twice (transversely, not standardized depths) along its dorsal surface. The dimensions were measured by using a 10-MHz linear probe and a gliding caliper. The lesions were classified as type A tears (<60%; n = 15) and type B tears (>60%; n = 28). RESULTS: The depths of type A tears had high correlation (r = 0.827), and those of type B tears had low correlation (r = 0.415). This low correlation was due to subtotal lesions (50%-70%; r = 0.699). High-resolution ultrasonography allowed the correct detection of 14 type A tears and 21 type B tears (kappa = 0.63; accuracy, 81%; type B tears: sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 93%). CONCLUSIONS: High-resolution ultrasonography is able to assess the dimensions of artificial partial tendon lesions in cadavers and would be an accurate tool for determining the lesion percentages in patients with partial tendon tears.

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