Inter and intra-examiner reliability of musculoskeletal ultrasound scanning of anterior talofibular ligament and ankle muscles

Ozgul, B; Starbuck, C; Polat, MG; Abdeen, R; Nester, CJ

Abstract

Purpose Although the function of subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI) has been examined, structural analysis by ultrasound scanning of the structures surrounding the ankle is limited. Before such structural comparisons between injured and uninjured people can be made it is important to investigate a reliable measurement protocol of structures possibly related to CAI. The aim of this study was to investigate the inter-intra examiner reliability of ultrasonic characteristics of selected structures in healthy subjects. Methods Eleven healthy participants were assessed by an experienced sonographer and inexperienced certificated examiner. Ultrasound images were collected of the ATFL length and ankle muscles of gastrocnemius medialis (GM), tibialis anterior (TA) and peroneals. Thickness was measured for the muscles, whilst cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured for the peroneals. Inexperienced examiner repeated the measurements a week later. Results Inter-examiner reliability was excellent for all structures (ICC3,1 = 0.91-0.98). Intra-examiner reliability shows excellent agreement for all structures (ICC3,1 = 0.92-0.98) except GM (good agreement) (ICC3,1 = 0.82). LoA, relative to structure size, ranged from 1.38 to 6.88% for inter-reliability and from 0.07 to 5.79% for intra-reliability. Conclusion This study shows a high level of inter-intra examiner reliability in measuring the structures possibly related to CAI. Future research has been planned to investigate the structural analysis in CAI by using applied MSUS protocol.

Citation

Ozgul, B., Starbuck, C., Polat, M., Abdeen, R., & Nester, C. (2022). Inter and intra-examiner reliability of musculoskeletal ultrasound scanning of anterior talofibular ligament and ankle muscles. Journal of Ultrasound,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 13, 2022
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Sep 16, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Ultrasound
• Electronic ISSN: 1876-7931
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-022-00699-8
• Additional Information: Funders : Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey; Projects : Program Code: 2214-A; Grant Number: 53325897-115.02-243381