The Usefulness of Ultrasonographic Evaluation in the Tendinitis

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of ultrasonographic evaluation in the tendinitis. METHOD: 52 tendinitis cases were evaluated by physical examination, Cyriax selective tension technique, simple X-ray and the high-resolution realtime ultrasonography. And clinical diagnosis of tendinitis was confirmed when symptom was relieved after the local lidocain injection to suspected site of tendinitis. The ultasonographic results were compared to clinical diagnosis and ultrasonographic findings were investigated. RESULT: The distribution of clinical tendinitis was as follows;15 extensor carpi radialis tendinitis, 12 supraspinatus tendinitis, 9 subscapular tendinitis and etc. Clinical diagnosis was matched with ultrasonographic results in 38 cases out of 52 (73.1%). The ultrasonographic findings of tendinitis were as follows; 31 hypoechogenicity, 14 thickening, 13 hypervascularity, 12 irregular margin and etc. CONCLUSION: The ultrasonography is useful in diagnosis of tendinitis and can provide the exact lesion site of tendinitis. Also it can be used for differential diagnosis of acute or chronic tendinitis.