Ann Rehabil Med.  2011 Aug;35(4):524-528. 10.5535/arm.2011.35.4.524.

The Test-Retest Reliability of Supraspinatus Cross-Sectional Area Measurement by Sonography

• Kim YS
• Heo NY
• Kim MW

• KMID: 1971718
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2011.35.4.524

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the test-retest reliability of supraspinatus cross-sectional area measurement by ultrasonography. METHOD: Both shoulders of 11 normal subjects (22 shoulders in total) were included in this study. The supraspinatus muscle was examined with the arm alongside the body in the coronal oblique and sagittal oblique planes. The occupational ratio of the supraspinatus fossa was measured. To calculate the occupational ratio, the Y view of MRI was reproduced with sonography by locating the suprascapular notch in the coronal oblique plane (in the plane of the scapula) and then rotating the transducer 90degrees to that plane. The cross-sectional area was measured using the tracing and ellipse tool. The second measurement was performed 7 days after the initial measurement.
RESULTS
The Pearson correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient between the first and the second occupational ratio measurements were 0.43 and 0.44, respectively, for the tracing method, and 0.53 and 0.47, respectively, for the ellipsoidal method. The difference between the first and second occupational ratio measurement was 4.1+/-3.9% (0.1-13.2%) for the tracing method, and 4.5+/-3.4% (0.01-10.5%) for the ellipsoidal method. The maximum difference was 13.2%. The occupational ratio was 86.2+/-5.3% (70.6-95.8%) for the tracing method and 85.0+/-5.2% (69.3-96.1%) for the ellipsoidal method.
CONCLUSION
Supraspinatus occupational ratio by sonography is a low to moderately reliable intrarater method. However, the maximum difference was not significant. The main reason for its low to moderate reliability was the narrow value range. Therefore, the study method should be re-evaluated in stroke patients and in patients with rotator cuff disease. Knowledge of the anatomy is a prerequisite to attain intrarater reliability.

Keyword

Supraspinatus; Ultrasonography; Test-retest reliability

MeSH Terms

Arm
Humans
Muscles
Rotator Cuff
Shoulder
Stroke
Transducers

Figure

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  Fig. 1 MRI Y-view (B or C) could be obtained by just one or two images advancing from the lateral (A) to medial (D). The defects of the Y-view were caused by the spinoglenoid notch at A and by the supraspinatus notch at D.

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  Fig. 2 Calculation of the occupation ratio by sonography reproducing MRI Y-view. C: clavicle; Sp: Scapular spine; t: trapezius; ss: supraspinatus.

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  Fig. 3 (A) The sagittal oblique line on the MRI Y-view is surrounded mostly by bony boundaries. (B) The application line of the probe on ultrasonography can be displaced to avoid bony interference.

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