Ultrasonography
is a standardized method that can be used efficiently to assess the presence of
subtalar joint (STJ) disease in RA patients.
The Ultrasonography (US) emerges as a reliable instrument for analysing subtalar joint (STJ) synovitis among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, according to recent research published in the Journal of Rheumatology.
Twelve sonographers directed a US reliability exercise with 10 RA cases with hindfoot pain by following a Delphi process. B-mode and power Doppler (PD) techniques assessed the anteromedial, posteromedial, and posterolateral STJ according to an agreed US protocol and a dichotomous score and 4-grade semiquantitative grading score for the presence of joint effusion (JE) and synovitis, respectively. Cohen's and Light's κ computed Intraobserver and interobserver reliability. Further, weighted κ coefficients with absolute weighting were estimated for B-mode and PD signal.
Mean weighted
Cohen's κ reported for JE, SH, and PD were 0.52, 0.80, and 0.61, respectively.
Weighted Cohen's κ determined for PD, JE, and SH in the anteromedial,
posteromedial, and posterolateral STJ were 0.28–0.77; 0.31–1, –0.05 to 0.65,
and –0.2 to 0.69; 0.66–1, 0.52–1, and 0.42–0.88; and –0.04 to 0.79, 0.42–0.95,
respectively. Further, weighted Light's κ for JE, SH, and PD were 0.16, 0.67,
and 0.46, respectively. Weighted Light's κ determined for PD, JE, and SH in the
anteromedial, posteromedial, and posterolateral STJ were 0.33, 0.09, and 0.63; 0.35,
0.04, and 0.49; and 0.66, 0.18, and 0.82, respectively. According to all these
measurements, the US was efficient in assessing synovitis of STJ.
The Journal of rheumatology
Ultrasound of Subtalar Joint Synovitis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of an OMERACT Reliability Exercise Using Consensual Definitions
George A.W. Bruyn et al.
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