Reproducibility of Ultrasonographic Measurements of the Ulnar Nerve at the Cubital Tunnel

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Alexandra Fink - , University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht (Author)
  • Marlijn Teggeler - , University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht (Author)
  • Marc Schmitz - , Institute for Immunology (Author)
  • Jaap Janssen - , Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (Author)
  • Martijn Pisters - , University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht (Author)

Abstract

The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ulnar nerve is thought to be indicative of ulnar nerve entrapment. The purpose of the study was to determine reproducibility of ultrasonographic measurements of CSA of the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel in healthy adults. Two sonographers tested 69 participants using a standardized protocol. The inter-rater reliability intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.63, and the intra-rater reliability intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.85 for sonographer 1 and 0.88 for sonographer 2. The smallest detectable changes were 2.47 and 2.63 mm 2 (25% and 26% of the mean CSA). The mean difference and 95% limits of agreement for sonographers 1 and 2 were -0.13 (-2.56 to 2.29) and -0.38 (-2.93 to 2.18). Based on the fair to good inter-rater reliability, the excellent intra-rater reliability and the clinical applicable intra-rater agreement, ultrasonography seems to be a valuable tool with which to assess the CSA of the ulnar nerve for diagnostic and evaluative purposes.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)439-444
Number of pages6
Journal Ultrasound in medicine & biology : official journal of the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
Volume43
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2017
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85005950352

Keywords

Keywords

  • Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Reference Values, Reproducibility of Results, Ulnar Nerve/anatomy & histology, Ultrasonography/methods, Wrist/anatomy & histology