A single simple position for ultrasound assessment of both common extensor and common flexor origin at the elbow.

OBJECTIVE

Is to evaluate the simplicity of 90° flexion/neutral position for ultrasonography assessment of both common extensor and common flexor origins in comparison with the standard position.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A standard questionnaire was distributed on 50 trainees, rheumatologists with No previous experience or training in ultrasonography. (They) were attending musculoskeletal training workshops at AL-Azhar rheumatology department musculoskeletal ultrasonography unit in 2016. Each participant then (was) asked to practice US examination of both common extensor and common flexor origins in both positions and then fill four questionnaires, two (of which are) for common flexor and (the other) two (are) for the common extensor origins, in the standard and the other proposed single position. Each questionnaire (whose) answer was graded on scale from 0 to 10, includes the following points: • Time needed to examine the tendon in minutes, • Difficulty in maintaining the probe contact to the skin, • Difficulty in getting good image of the tendon, • The overall impression of simplicity.

RESULTS

Descriptive analysis of the questionnaire results shows that the participants favors the single position in all questionnaire parameters. Comparing means of the four questionnaire parameters in both positions shows highly significant difference in the four parameters at the level of both common flexor and extensor origins in favor of the single position as p > 0.005.

CONCLUSION

The 90 degree flexion/neutral position appears to be simpler than the standard position for ultrasonography assessment of common extensor and common flexor tendons at the elbow.