《Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice》 ›› 2023, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 738-744.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2023.06.017

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Reliability on evaluation of quadriceps femoris muscle quality by ultrasonic echo intensity in patients with knee osteoarthritis

LI Junyi1, CHEN Zehua2, WU Zugui1, WANG Yi1, LI Congcong1, WANG Shuai1, CHEN Weijian1, YE Zixuan1, SHEN Xingxing1, XIANG Ruian1, LIU Wengang1,3, XU Xuemeng1,3()   

  1. 1. The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, China
    2. Zhuzhou Traumatology Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412007, China
    3. Guangdong Provincial Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, China
  • Received:2023-01-23 Revised:2023-03-12 Published:2023-06-25 Online:2023-07-14
  • Contact: E-mail: xuxuemeng@163.com
  • Supported by:
    Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan Project(202206010048);Guangdong Provincial Basic and Applied Research Foundation(2022A1515220157);Guangdong Provincial Basic and Applied Research Foundation(2021A1515011545);Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Plan Project(2021B1111610007)

Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of echo intensity of ultrasound image for quality of quadriceps femoris in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
Methods From March to December, 2021, 33 patients with unilateral KOA in Guangdong Provincial Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were included. Ultrasound was used to observe the cross sections of rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL), and the images were saved. Two independent raters analyzed the average gray value of the picture with the Image J. One of the raters repeated the measurement. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimum detectable change (MDC) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated and the Bland-Altman charts were drawn.
Results The gray value was higher in the RF, VM and VL in the affected side than in the healthy side (t > 2.262, P < 0.05). The inter-rater reliability was excellent, with ICC 0.982 to 0.995, SEM 1.60 to 3.82, CV 1.49% to 5.90%, and MDC value 4.43 to 10.59. The test-retest reliability of the rater was excellent, with ICC 0.969 to 0.990, SEM 2.37 to 5.41, CV 2.22% to 4.84%, and MDC value 6.57 to 15.00. Bland-Altman charts analysis showed that the consistency was good.
Conclusion The quadriceps femoris muscle quality is different between the affected and the healthy sides in patients with unilateral KOA. It is reliable to evaluate muscle echo intensity by Image J.

Key words: knee osteoarthritis, quadriceps femoris, musculoskeletal ultrasound, reliability

CLC Number: