2015 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #1320

Functional Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: A Field Study

Hans-Georg Palm, Assistant Professor, MD, MBA, Ulm GERMANY
Gerolf Bergenthal, MD, Ulm GERMANY
Peter Ehry, MD, Ulm GERMANY
Winfried Schwarz, Ulm GERMANY
Roland Schmidt, Prof., MD, Ulm GERMANY
Benedikt Friemert, ERBACH, DE GERMANY

German Armed Forces Hospital Ulm, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, GERMANY

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary: Our study shows that an examiner without specialist knowledge in ultrasonography can accurately diagnose acute ACL injuries using functional ultrasonography.

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Abstract:

Objective

Functional ultrasonography is a rapid and inexpensive method of diagnosing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. In previous studies, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of this innovative method by experienced sonographers. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether an examiner without specialist expertise in arthrosonography can achieve similar positive results and whether this technique is effective as a screening tool that can help reduce the number of undetected ACL injuries.

Patients and methods:
After a short period of training, a single examiner prospectively measured anterior tibial translation by ultrasonography in the injured and healthy knees of 41 patients with acute knee trauma. An ACL rupture was presumed to be present if the side-to-side difference in tibial translation exceeded 1 mm (?D>1 mm). All patients who were enrolled in the study underwent arthroscopy or at least magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results

Ultrasonography revealed the presence of an ACL lesion in 32 of 33 patients with arthroscopically confirmed ACL rupture (sensitivity: 97%, specificity: 87.5%). The mean side-to-side differences (?D) between injured (3.8 mm ± 1.5 mm) and uninjured ACLs (0.1 mm ± 0.7 mm) were statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Our study shows that an examiner without specialist knowledge in ultrasonography can accurately diagnose acute ACL injuries using functional ultrasonography. No additional mechanical tests (KT-1000/KT-2000) or MRI examinations are required. Functional ultrasonography is easy to learn and ensures a high level of diagnostic accuracy. It is well suited for applications in private practices and smaller hospitals with basic medical/surgical care.