Embriano Kreig, Holland Merrilee, Corriveau Kayla M, Hofmeister Eric, McCarthy Jess
RadioPet. LLC, Hixson, Tennessee, USA.
Department of Clinical Science, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, Alabama, USA.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2025 Jan;66(1):e13447. doi: 10.1111/vru.13447. Epub 2024 Oct 3.
Elastography is a sonographic modality that measures tissue stiffness, a mechanical property of tissues, and a biomarker for disease. Canine musculoskeletal application to the patellar tendon has been limited to semiqualitative strain elastography. This prospective study aimed to quantitatively evaluate patellar tendon stiffness using shear-wave elastography with a color map superimposed over the tendon, a propagation map for quality control, and measurements at specific regions of interest in 16 clinically normal sedated dogs weighing 25 kg or greater. Tendon stiffness using shear-wave elastography (SWE) was assessed at different stifle angles and in three regions to determine if angle and location affected stiffness. All dogs were screened with general and orthopedic exams, lateral stifle radiographs, and patellar tendon 2D ultrasound. Shear-wave elastography was performed from a long axis at various stifle angles at the proximal, middle, and distal tendon segments. Quality diagnostic SWE results varied significantly with stifle angle, and 150° of extension was the only angle found to be clinically useful based on the ease of obtaining measurable results and a quality control propagation wave. Patellar tendons were primarily stiff with a red color elastogram. The proximal and middle segments, measured at various angles, had a mean SWE velocity of 7.32 ± 0.90 m/s. Tendon stiffness did not differ along tendon length when measured in greater extension. However, stiffness decreased in the middle segment of the tendon at 150° when compared with 120°. This study establishes a quantitative baseline of normal patellar tendon stiffness to compare with pathologic states.
弹性成像技术是一种超声检查方法，可测量组织硬度，这是组织的一种力学特性，也是疾病的生物标志物。犬类肌肉骨骼系统在髌腱方面的应用仅限于半定量应变弹性成像。这项前瞻性研究旨在使用剪切波弹性成像技术对髌腱硬度进行定量评估，该技术通过在肌腱上叠加彩色图、用于质量控制的传播图以及在16只体重25千克或更重的临床正常镇静犬的特定感兴趣区域进行测量。使用剪切波弹性成像（SWE）在不同的 stifle 角度和三个区域评估肌腱硬度，以确定角度和位置是否会影响硬度。所有犬只均接受了全身和骨科检查、侧位 stifle 射线照片以及髌腱二维超声检查。在近端、中部和远端肌腱段，从长轴在不同的 stifle 角度进行剪切波弹性成像。高质量诊断性SWE结果随stifle角度有显著差异，基于获得可测量结果的难易程度和质量控制传播波，发现150°伸展是唯一在临床上有用的角度。髌腱主要表现为僵硬，弹性图为红色。在不同角度测量的近端和中部段，平均SWE速度为7.32±0.90米/秒。在更大伸展度下测量时，肌腱硬度沿肌腱长度并无差异。然而，与120°相比，在150°时肌腱中部段的硬度降低。本研究建立了正常髌腱硬度的定量基线，以便与病理状态进行比较。
