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Can sonography predict the outcome in patients with Achillodynia?
Author(s) -
Archambault Joanne M.,
Wiley J. Preston,
Bray Robert C.,
Verhoef Marja,
Wiseman David A.,
Elliott P. Davis
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0096(199809)26:7<335::aid-jcu1>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - medicine , outcome (game theory) , radiology , mathematics , mathematical economics
Purpose We evaluated whether the grade assigned to the Achilles tendon's appearance on sonograms can be used to predict the outcome of achillodynia. Methods A retrospective evaluation was done of a case series of patients with Achilles tendon pain seen at a sports medicine clinic. The study consisted of chart reviews, telephone follow‐up interviews, and grading of ultrasound images of the tendon obtained during the initial visit. The grading scheme was as follows: grade 1, normal tendon; grade 2, enlarged tendon; and grade 3, tendon containing a hypoechoic area, regardless of size. The time needed to recover from symptoms was compared between grades using survival analysis. Results The group consisted of 33 patients, with a mean age of 35.8 years and a mean follow‐up time of 24.3 months. There was a statistically significant difference in the time to full recovery between grades ( p = 0.02). Patients with grade 1 tendons had a prompter resolution of symptoms than did patients with grade 2 or 3 tendons. Conclusions This retrospective study of the outcome of achillodynia demonstrates the possible use of tendon sonography as a prognostic tool to supplement physical examination. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 26:335–339, 1998.