| Objective: The injuries of tendons of the hand are common, frequently-occurring disease in clinic. With the development of ultrasonography technology, high-frequency ultrasound has been applied to the diagnosis of superficial organ disease. We have some clinical experiences in examination of tendon with high-frequency ultrasound, but for normal flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons in ultrasound anatomy study, there is no report in documents. In this study, we observe normal people's FDP tendons, and discuss the reference ranges of width and thickness as well as relative factors, in order to provide some references for clinic.Methods: The subjects investigated are 100 healthy people's hands. The 100 people(Male 50 and female 50 with a mean age of 36.7 years) are the interns, staff which from the ultrasonic diagnosis department of the 3rd hospital of Hebei Medical University, and other healthy volunteers. In addition we observed injured FDP tendon of 3 cases in compare with the normal.First of all, we inquired subjects'age, sex, measured height and weight, and measured the perimeter of forearm on both sides at 5cm distal to the cubital crease.The volunteer's arm was positioned palm upward. With the ultrasound transmission gel covered the finger, the transducer was placed directly on the skin. The contents of the ultrasound test are normal ultrasonography of FDP tendons, including both longitudinal section and transverse section, and the width and thickness of FDP tendons, which measured at metacarpophalangeal joint level, the middle of proximal phalanx level, and distal interphalangeal joint level. And then calculated the width/thickness value (W/T). SPSS13.0 was used to make statistical analysis.Results:1. All the fingers can clearly show the FDP tendons, and get a clear longitudinal and transverse section images on the unified measurement condition. Longitudinal sonograms show the FDP tendons are line-like homogeneous hyperechoic. Transverse sonograms demonstrate the FDP tendons are elliptical in shape. The ultrasonography of the tendon is higher than other soft tissue. We can see the tendon slipping when the finger moves.2. The mean width of FDP tendons is 0.41±0.11cm (0.42±0.11cm left hands, and 0.41±0.11cm right hands). The mean thickness of FDP tendons is 0.19±0.05cm (0.19±0.04cm left hands, and 0.19±0.05cm right hands).3. There is no statistical difference in the FDP tendons'mean width and thickness between left and right hand (P>0.05).4. There is statistical difference in the FDP tendons'mean width and thickness between male and female (P<0.05).5. The mean thickness and width has no significant correlation with age, gender and forearm perimeter (P>0.05). The mean width has no significant correlation with height (P>0.05), whereas the mean thickness has (P<0.05).6. The W/T values of each finger FDP tendon are more than 2 at the metacarpophalangeal joint level and distal interphalangeal joint level, whereas less than 2 at the middle of proximal phalanx level.Conclusion:1. High-frequency ultrasonography depicts clearly the configuration, dimension and anatomical relationship of normal FDP tendons, both from longitudinal section and transverse section.2. According to our study: there is statistical difference in the FDP tendons'mean width and thickness between male and female. The mean thickness of FDP tendons has correlation with height, but the mean width has no correlation with height. The mean thickness and width of FDP tendons has no relevance with age, weight, and forearm perimeter. The FDP tendons'mean thickness and width has no statistical difference between left and right hand.3. High-frequency ultrasonography can provide high quality images and other information of injured FDP tendon. Such information will be helpful in the diagnosis and management. |
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