Premium
Semitendinosus and patellar tendons shear modulus evaluation by supersonic shearwave imaging elastography
Author(s) -
Fontenelle C. R. C.,
Mannarino P.,
Ribeiro F. B. D. O.,
Milito M. A.,
Carvalho A. C. P.,
Menegaldo L. L.,
Oliveira L. F.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1111/cpf.12506
Subject(s) - medicine , patellar tendon , elastography , tendon , patellar ligament , stiffness , anterior cruciate ligament , orthodontics , anatomy , ultrasound , composite material , radiology , materials science
Summary Purpose Shear modulus (μ) is directly correlated to the tissue stiffness and can predict the tendon ultimate force to failure. With the knee extended 0 ° (K0), semitendinosus tendon ( ST ) is tensioned while patellar tendon ( PT ) is relaxed. At 80 o , knee flexion (K80) tendons present an opposite stress pattern; however, the relation between ST and PT μ in both situations was not studied yet. Method We accessed the μ of the ST and PT at 0 o and 80 o knee flexion by supersonic shear wave imaging ( SSI ) elastography from 18 healthy males. Relative μ indexes were calculated for relaxed and tensioned conditions. Result The average μ for ST was μ ST ‐K0 = 197·62 ± 31·93 kP a and μ ST ‐K80 = 77·76 ± 30·08. For TP , values were μ TP ‐K0 = 23·45 ± 5·89 and μ TP ‐K80 = 113·92 ± 57·23 kP a. Relative μ indexes were calculated for relaxed ( IR = μ ST ‐K80 /μ TP ‐K0 ) and tensioned conditions ( IT = μ ST ‐K0 /μ PT ‐K80 ). The relative μ indexes were IR = 3·63 ± 1·50 and IT = 2·00 ± 0·96 ( P <0·05). Conclusion Semitendinosus tendon μ was significantly higher than PT μ in both tensioned and relaxed positions. This can predict a higher ultimate force to failure and a less elastic behaviour in ST grafts when compared to PT grafts. This new parameter could aid physicians in graft choice previous to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.