Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
J Equine Vet Sci. 2020 Nov;94:103242. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103242. Epub 2020 Sep 2.
Ultrasound (US) is a well-established technique for investigating joint diseases in horses, complementary to radiography. Few studies have been performed on the ultrasonographic aspect of the elbow joint in horses and no reports are available on donkeys. The aim of this study is to describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the elbow joint in healthy donkeys. Descriptive cohort study included 34 elbow joints, which were evaluated in 17 donkeys. Inclusion criteria included no lameness or musculoskeletal diseases in the donkeys. The structures evaluated were the lateral and medial collateral ligaments, ulnaris lateralis proximal tendon, distal biceps brachii tendon, triceps brachii tendon, and the articular space. For each structure, one good-quality image was recorded. The structures were retrospectively assessed for echogenicity, fiber orientation, bone appearance, and shape. The prevalence of the visualized structures was calculated. Cohen κ coefficient was calculated for the repeatability (intraoperator agreement), the reproducibility (interoperator agreement), and the influence of the operator's experience in US examination. The US appearance of the structures was described. Statistical analysis showed scarce-to-moderate agreement concerning the repeatability and mostly scarce-to-good agreement concerning the reproducibility of the US examination; finally, low-to-discrete agreement concerning the operator's experience. Technical difficulties precluded an accurate description of the medial collateral ligament. The healthy animals included were limited. The US examination of the elbow joint in donkeys were similar to the features reported in horses. Individual experience partially influences the execution and the assessment of the US images.
超声（US）是一种广泛应用于研究马关节疾病的技术，与放射学相辅相成。虽然已经有一些关于马肘关节超声表现的研究，但关于驴的研究却很少，也没有相关报道。本研究旨在描述健康驴肘关节的超声表现。本研究为描述性队列研究，共纳入 34 个肘关节，涉及 17 头驴。纳入标准为驴无跛行或肌肉骨骼疾病。评估的结构包括外侧和内侧副韧带、外侧桡侧腕长伸肌腱、远端肱二头肌肌腱、肱三头肌肌腱和关节间隙。对每个结构均记录 1 个高质量的图像。对结构的回声特性、纤维方向、骨外观和形状进行回顾性评估。计算了可视化结构的发生率。计算了 Cohen κ 系数，以评估超声检查的重复性（操作者内一致性）、再现性（操作者间一致性）和操作者经验的影响。描述了结构的超声表现。统计分析显示，在重复性方面存在中等程度至中等程度的一致性，在再现性方面存在中等程度至良好的一致性，而在操作者经验方面存在低至离散的一致性。技术困难使得对内侧副韧带的准确描述变得困难。纳入的健康动物数量有限。驴肘关节的超声检查与马的特征报告相似。个体经验在一定程度上影响了超声图像的执行和评估。
