Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2021; 34(03): 200-205
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1721660
Original Research

Sonoelastography of Normal Canine Common Calcaneal Tendon: Preliminary Results

Francesca Del Signore
1   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piano D'Accio, Teramo, Italy
,
Stefania De Dominicis
1   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piano D'Accio, Teramo, Italy
,
Giovanni Mastromatteo
1   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piano D'Accio, Teramo, Italy
,
1   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piano D'Accio, Teramo, Italy
,
Pier Augusto Scapolo
1   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piano D'Accio, Teramo, Italy
,
1   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piano D'Accio, Teramo, Italy
,
Massimo Vignoli
1   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piano D'Accio, Teramo, Italy
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a feasible and newly developed ultrasonographic technique which is able to assess elasticity of tissues. The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility of SWE on the normal canine common calcaneal tendon (CCT) evaluating the intra-operator repeatability and reproducibility of single measurements and stiffness of different anatomic CCT portions was examined. Tendons were first evaluated with B-mode ultrasound with a linear probe 8.5 to 10 MHz in longitudinal section with slight flexed tarsocrural joint and a gel-pad. Common calcaneal tendon was divided into three different anatomical regions. Shear wave elastography was performed in each region by two operators and quantitative evaluation (m/s and kPa) was performed on the most representative images. Region of interest (0.15 cm) was settled. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) results were classified using the following scale: 0.00 to 0.20 = poor; 0.20 to 0.40 = fair; 0.40 to 075 = good; >0.75 = excellent. Ten adult dogs were enrolled. Intra-operator ICC values were >0.75 for both operators in every tendon portion. Inter-operator SWE ICC values for m/s measurements were 0.3, 0.61 and 0.61 for the enthesis, intermediate portion and the myotendinous junction respectively; for kPa measurements, values were respectively 0.3, 0.7 and 0.81. The three CCT portions were significantly different in stiffness (p-value < 0.001 for both m/s and kPa measurements). These preliminary results provide evidence that SWE is potentially appliable to assess mechanical properties of canine CCT affected by tendinopathies.

Authors' Contributions

All authors have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.




Publication History

Received: 07 April 2020

Accepted: 22 October 2020

Article published online:
10 December 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
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