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Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Elastographic Strain Ratio Measurements of Patellar and Achilles Tendons
Author(s) -
Ağladıoğlu Kadir,
Akkaya Nuray,
Güngör Harun R.,
Akkaya Semih,
Ök Nusret,
Özçakar Levent
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/ultra.15.11050
Subject(s) - medicine , achilles tendon , strain (injury) , cigarette smoking , elastography , ultrasound , body mass index , patellar tendon , tendon , orthodontics , surgery , anatomy , radiology
Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the sonographic and elastographic properties of patellar and Achilles tendons in smoking and nonsmoking otherwise healthy adults. Methods We conducted a level 3 case‐control analytical study. Smoking and nonsmoking volunteers (>18 years) without musculoskeletal system disorders were included in the study. Demographic characteristics and smoking habits (pack‐years) were recorded. Proximal, middle, and distal third thicknesses of the patellar and Achilles tendons were measured by B‐mode sonography. Strain ratio measurements of the same regions were measured by real‐time ultrasound elastography. Results A total of 69 participants (57 male and 12 female; mean age ± SD, 35.5 ± 7.8 years) were evaluated in the study. Smoking (n = 35) and nonsmoking (n = 34) groups had no significant differences in terms of age, body mass index, sex, and activity level (all P > .05). Proximal, middle, and distal thirds of the patellar and Achilles tendons were significantly thinner in the smoking group (all P < .05). Furthermore, strain ratio measurements in the same regions were significantly lower in the smoking group (all P < .05). Patellar tendon thicknesses and strain ratios had negative correlations with the smoking amount (all P < .05). Conclusions Thickness and strain ratio measurements of patellar and Achilles tendons were reduced (thinner and harder tendons) in smokers. Clinical implications of these morphologic and elastographic changes should be investigated in future studies.