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

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 3rd left MCT on the 1st day, 4th left MCT on the 1st day and 4th right MCT on the 3rd day which were "good". They were "excellent" for the TCT measurements, except for the left side on the 3rd day and the right side on the 4th day which were "good". Inter-observer ICC values pertaining to the 2nd MCT measurements were "excellent" for all sonographers. Third and 4th 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.