Development of a Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Protocol to Examine Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Outcomes in Systemic Sclerosis

Overview

Journal J Diagn Med Sonogr

Date 2021 Feb 1

PMID 33521795

Citations 2

Authors

Susan L Murphy

Donnamarie Krause

Shawn C Roll

Girish Gandikota

Mary Barber

Dinesh Khanna

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: This study developed a musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) protocol to evaluate rehabilitation outcomes in systemic sclerosis.

Materials & Methods: Three MSUS methods (grey scale, Doppler, strain elastography) and two acquisition techniques (long versus short axis; transducer on skin versus floating on gel) were examined in the forearm before and after rehabilitation treatment. For grey-scale, tissue thickness measures, intra- and inter-rater reliability were calculated (ICCs), and paired t-tests examined differences among techniques.

Results: Five people with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis participated. The most valid and reliable grey-scale technique was with the transducer in long-axis, floating on gel. Doppler and strain elastography did not detect changes. Both dermal and subcutaneous thickness measurement error was small; intra- and inter-rater reliability was good to excellent. Preliminary data indicate that treatment may lead to dermal thinning.

Conclusion: A replicable protocol was established and may be an adjunct to rehabilitation outcome measurement in systemic sclerosis.

Citing Articles

Skin involvement in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: an unmet clinical need.

Herrick A, Assassi S, Denton C Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2022; 18(5):276-285.

PMID: 35292731 PMC: 8922394. DOI: 10.1038/s41584-022-00765-9.

Rehabilitation Interventions in Systemic Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Future Directions.

Murphy S, Poole J, Chen Y, Lescoat A, Khanna D Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2021; 74(1):59-69.

PMID: 34165263 PMC: 8695630. DOI: 10.1002/acr.24737.

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