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Validity and reliability of nerve and muscle ultrasound
Author(s) -
Cartwright Michael S.,
Demar Samantha,
Griffin Leah P.,
Balakrishnan Nikhil,
Harris Jessica M.,
Walker Francis O.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.23621
Subject(s) - intra rater reliability , ultrasound , reliability (semiconductor) , inter rater reliability , medicine , anatomy , cadaver , median nerve , nuclear medicine , radiology , mathematics , rating scale , statistics , confidence interval , physics , power (physics) , quantum mechanics
: Nerve and muscle ultrasound has been studied in several conditions, but validity and reliability have not been assessed systematically. Methods : Nerve cross‐sectional area and muscle thickness were measured ultrasonographically at several sites in 4 cadavers, which were then dissected, and actual measurements were obtained. To assess intrarater and interrater reliability, between 3 and 5 ultrasonographers, with varying experience levels, made repeated measurements on healthy volunteers. Results : Correlation coefficients for nerve and muscle validity were >0.968 ( P < 0.001), and for intrarater reliability were >0.901 ( P < 0.001) for still and real‐time images. Correlation coefficients for interrater reliability were more varied, but for still images they were all significant at the P < 0.001 (0.542–0.998) level, and for real‐time images they were significant at the P < 0.05 level for half the sites (0.243–0.981). Conclusion : Overall, nerve and muscle ultrasound is a valid and reliable diagnostic imaging technique. Muscle Nerve, 2013