Ultrasonographic measurements of the metacarpophalangeal and talar cartilage thicknesses: A reliability study in healthy subjects

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Assessment of the joint cartilage using ultrasound imaging is important.

OBJECTIVE:

Our aim was to investigate the reliabilities of ultrasonographic measurements for talus dome (TCT) and metacarpal cartilage thicknesses (MCT).

METHODS:

Twenty healthy volunteers were recruited in the study. Every day, five physiatrists measured eight joint cartilage thicknesses. They repeated all the measurements in five consecutive days.

RESULTS:

Intra-observer intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were “excellent” for all MCTs, except for the 3 ${}^{\text{rd}}$ left MCT on the 1 ${}^{\text{st}}$ day, 4 ${}^{\text{th}}$ left MCT on the 1 ${}^{\text{st}}$ day and 4 ${}^{\text{th}}$ right MCT on the 3 ${}^{\text{rd}}$ day which were “good”. They were “excellent” for the TCT measurements, except for the left side on the 3 ${}^{\text{rd}}$ day and the right side on the 4 ${}^{\text{th}}$ day which were “good”. Inter-observer ICC values pertaining to the 2 ${}^{\text{nd}}$ MCT measurements were “excellent” for all sonographers. Third and 4 ${}^{\text{th}}$ MCT measurements (at least one side) were “excellent” for four and three sonographers, respectively. On the other hand, while TCT measurements were “excellent” for 4 sonographers.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results have shown that sonographic measurements of MCT and TCT have good to excellent reliabilities in healthy adults. These findings support the use of ultrasound for cartilage assessment in various diseases.