Validity and reliability of an ultrasound measurement of the free length of the Achilles tendon

Kristoffer Weisskirchner Barfod; Anja Falk Riecke; Anders Boesen; Philip Hansen; Jens Friedrich Maier; Simon Doessing; Anders Troelsen

Validity and reliability of an ultrasound measurement of the free length of the Achilles tendon

Kristoffer Weisskirchner Barfod, Anja Falk Riecke, Anders Boesen, Philip Hansen, Jens Friedrich Maier, Simon Doessing, Anders Troelsen

Department of Clinical Medicine

5 Citations (Scopus)

37 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Valid length measurements of the different segments of the Achilles tendon are needed in order to investigate if differential elongation of the Achilles tendon takes place after rupture. The purpose of this paper was to present data concerning the accuracy and reliability of an ultrasound measurement of the free part of the Achilles tendon. METHODS: Both legs of 19 non-injured subjects were examined by magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) and ultrasound. The length from the distal tip of the soleus muscle to the tendon insertion on the calcaneus was measured by three independent ultrasound examiners. Repeated ultrasound measurements were performed and compared with MRI measurements. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and the agreement between MRI and ultrasound were determined. Data were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC). RESULTS: The measurement showed excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91-0.96), SEM = 5 mm and MDC = 13 mm) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97), SEM = 4 mm and MDC = 11 mm). On average, ultrasound measurements exceeded the MRI measurements by 2 mm (non-significant); resulting in a measurement error of 5%. CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasound measurement of the free part of the Achilles tendon showed good reliability and accuracy. For comparison between groups of non-injured subjects, differences of > 5 mm can be detected. For repeated assessment of individual subject differences ≥ 13 mm can be detected.

Original language	English
Article number	A5453
Journal	Danish Medical Journal
Volume	65
Issue number	3
Number of pages	5
ISSN	1603-9629
Publication status	Published - Mar 2018

Keywords

Achilles Tendon/anatomy & histology
Adult
Denmark
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Reproducibility of Results
Tendon Injuries/diagnostic imaging
Ultrasonography

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@article{3e74cf6a59f3466bafd841a604c3281a,

title = "Validity and reliability of an ultrasound measurement of the free length of the Achilles tendon",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION: Valid length measurements of the different segments of the Achilles tendon are needed in order to investigate if differential elongation of the Achilles tendon takes place after rupture. The purpose of this paper was to present data concerning the accuracy and reliability of an ultrasound measurement of the free part of the Achilles tendon. METHODS: Both legs of 19 non-injured subjects were examined by magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) and ultrasound. The length from the distal tip of the soleus muscle to the tendon insertion on the calcaneus was measured by three independent ultrasound examiners. Repeated ultrasound measurements were performed and compared with MRI measurements. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and the agreement between MRI and ultrasound were determined. Data were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC). RESULTS: The measurement showed excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91-0.96), SEM = 5 mm and MDC = 13 mm) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97), SEM = 4 mm and MDC = 11 mm). On average, ultrasound measurements exceeded the MRI measurements by 2 mm (non-significant); resulting in a measurement error of 5%. CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasound measurement of the free part of the Achilles tendon showed good reliability and accuracy. For comparison between groups of non-injured subjects, differences of > 5 mm can be detected. For repeated assessment of individual subject differences ≥ 13 mm can be detected.",

keywords = "Achilles Tendon/anatomy & histology, Adult, Denmark, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Reproducibility of Results, Tendon Injuries/diagnostic imaging, Ultrasonography",

author = "Barfod, {Kristoffer Weisskirchner} and Riecke, {Anja Falk} and Anders Boesen and Philip Hansen and Maier, {Jens Friedrich} and Simon Doessing and Anders Troelsen",

note = "Articles published in the DMJ are “open access”. This means that the articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.",

year = "2018",

month = mar,

language = "English",

volume = "65",

journal = "Danish Medical Journal",

issn = "2245-1919",

publisher = "Almindelige Danske Laegeforening",

number = "3",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Validity and reliability of an ultrasound measurement of the free length of the Achilles tendon

AU - Barfod, Kristoffer Weisskirchner

AU - Riecke, Anja Falk

AU - Boesen, Anders

AU - Hansen, Philip

AU - Maier, Jens Friedrich

AU - Doessing, Simon

AU - Troelsen, Anders

N1 - Articles published in the DMJ are “open access”. This means that the articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

PY - 2018/3

Y1 - 2018/3

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Valid length measurements of the different segments of the Achilles tendon are needed in order to investigate if differential elongation of the Achilles tendon takes place after rupture. The purpose of this paper was to present data concerning the accuracy and reliability of an ultrasound measurement of the free part of the Achilles tendon. METHODS: Both legs of 19 non-injured subjects were examined by magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) and ultrasound. The length from the distal tip of the soleus muscle to the tendon insertion on the calcaneus was measured by three independent ultrasound examiners. Repeated ultrasound measurements were performed and compared with MRI measurements. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and the agreement between MRI and ultrasound were determined. Data were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC). RESULTS: The measurement showed excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91-0.96), SEM = 5 mm and MDC = 13 mm) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97), SEM = 4 mm and MDC = 11 mm). On average, ultrasound measurements exceeded the MRI measurements by 2 mm (non-significant); resulting in a measurement error of 5%. CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasound measurement of the free part of the Achilles tendon showed good reliability and accuracy. For comparison between groups of non-injured subjects, differences of > 5 mm can be detected. For repeated assessment of individual subject differences ≥ 13 mm can be detected.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Valid length measurements of the different segments of the Achilles tendon are needed in order to investigate if differential elongation of the Achilles tendon takes place after rupture. The purpose of this paper was to present data concerning the accuracy and reliability of an ultrasound measurement of the free part of the Achilles tendon. METHODS: Both legs of 19 non-injured subjects were examined by magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) and ultrasound. The length from the distal tip of the soleus muscle to the tendon insertion on the calcaneus was measured by three independent ultrasound examiners. Repeated ultrasound measurements were performed and compared with MRI measurements. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and the agreement between MRI and ultrasound were determined. Data were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC). RESULTS: The measurement showed excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91-0.96), SEM = 5 mm and MDC = 13 mm) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97), SEM = 4 mm and MDC = 11 mm). On average, ultrasound measurements exceeded the MRI measurements by 2 mm (non-significant); resulting in a measurement error of 5%. CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasound measurement of the free part of the Achilles tendon showed good reliability and accuracy. For comparison between groups of non-injured subjects, differences of > 5 mm can be detected. For repeated assessment of individual subject differences ≥ 13 mm can be detected.

KW - Achilles Tendon/anatomy & histology

KW - Adult

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Reproducibility of Results

KW - Tendon Injuries/diagnostic imaging

KW - Ultrasonography

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29510804

SN - 2245-1919

VL - 65

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

IS - 3

M1 - A5453

ER -

Validity and reliability of an ultrasound measurement of the free length of the Achilles tendon

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Keywords

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