الفهرس 
Anatomy of Achilles TendonOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 110 |  |  |
| | | from | 110 | | |
Abstract
Abstract
Background: High-frequency musculoskeletal ultrasound provides high spatial resolution in assessment of superficial soft tissues. As a result, musculoskeletal ultrasound is used in the evaluation of the superficial tendons, and, in particular, the Achilles tendon. Ultrasound (US) has several benefits such as its suitability to be integrated with a dynamic assessment, its ability to provide real-time analysis, its avoidance of the risk of radiation exposure, and its cost-effectiveness.
Patients and Methods: This study is a comparative cross-sectional study, it was conducted in radiology department at Ain-Shams University Hospitals (El-Demerdash). It included 34 cases who were classified into two groups (17 healthy volunteers and 17 cases with Achilles tendon abnormalities). MRI findings were used as the gold standard. The assessment of Achilles tendon was performed with the patients lied prone using a linear high frequency probe to scan the tendon in both planes (longitudinal and transverse planes) till its calcaneal insertion.
Results: The concordance between MRI and dynamic US evaluation in the assessment of normal Achilles tendon was 100% confirming that US have high diagnostic accuracy as same as MRI in evaluation of Achilles tendon in healthy subjects. Also, US and MRI were sensitive and accurate tools for evaluation of the spectrum of abnormalities encountered with Achilles tendon injury, with good ability to discriminate partial from full thickness tears. US was capable of detecting most Achilles tendon abnormalities with high accuracy.
Conclusions: We concluded from our study ultrasound provides a good alternative to other modalities, such as MRI, for diagnosing Achilles tendon disorders with a good diagnostic accuracy. Ultrasound can be used as the initial imaging of choice for the evaluation of symptomatic Achilles tendon disorders. However, tendons which appeared normal by ultrasound could be assessed later using MRI to provide detailed regional evaluation.
Keywords:
Achilles tendon, tendinopathy, tendon tears, ultrasonography