Role of Sonoelastography in the Evaluation of Supraspinatus Tendinopathy – A Comparative Study with Mri in a Tertiary Care Centre in Chengalpattu District

Abstract

Background: Rotator cuff pathologies are main cause for chronic shoulder pain, among them supraspinatus tendinopathy is more common. Magnetic resonance imaging, which is usually considered as the reference standard. Sono-elastography is noninvasive and reliable ultrasound technique that provides qualitative as well as quantitative assessment of tendon quality through alteration in the tissue composition.

Objectives: To determine if there is a correlation between Sono elastography and MRI for the purpose of early diagnosis of supraspinatus tendinopathy.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Settings: Department of Radio-Diagnosis, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Thiruporur.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study included 110 patients with supraspinatus tendinopathy aged 20-70 years, both MRI grades and sonoelastography (Shear Wave Velocity and modulus) parameters were assessed for each grade supraspinatus tendinopathy using a high-frequency linear probe. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 23 software.

 Sample Size: 110

Main Outcome Measures: To assess the degree of correlation between MRI grades and sonoelastography measures in cases of supraspinatus tendinopathy.

Patients Results: Over 18 months, 110 cases were studied. Patients experiencing supraspinatus tendinopathy had a significantly decreased tendon stiffness, as shown by a low shear wave velocity (SWV) and high shear wave modulus (kPa) There was an average shear wave velocity of 3.9 m/s for Grade I tendon abnormalities, 3.4 m/s for Grade II abnormalities, and 2.7 m/s for Grade III abnormalities. Classification of tendinopathy was found to be mild in 27.2% of cases, moderate to severe in 31.8%, and severe in 40.9%. which are correlating with MRI grading with P<0.001.

Conclusions: SWE may be used in identification of tendon abnormalities early.Our study found a high association between tendinopathy MRI findings and tendon stiffness values in sonoelastography.It is a method that is simple, fast, and inexpensive helps to diagnose early and start the rehabilitation early so can prevent the tendon tear also reliable diagnostic tool in centers where MRI is not availabe or in patients in whom MRI is contraindicated