J Korean Soc Traumatol.  2014 Dec;27(4):139-144. 10.0000/jti.2014.27.4.139.

The Utility of Ultrasonography in the Emergency Department for the Diagnosis of Finger Tendon Injury

• Park JW
• Lee JY
• Lee WS
• Sung WY
• Seo SW
• Yang JI

• KMID: 2297763
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jti.2014.27.4.139

Abstract

PURPOSE
Detection and determination of tendon injury in the finger or hand is not easy. Therefore, we aimed to study and evaluate the accuracy and the effectiveness of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of finger tendon injury.
METHODS
In this study, we enrolled patients, regardless of age and sex, with lacerations on their fingers. Patients with invisible wounds were excluded. We evaluated the accuracy and the effectiveness of ultrasonography and compared the results obtained from ultrasonography and with those obtained by visual observation of the injuries.
RESULTS
The sensitivity, the specificity and the accuracy of ultrasonography were found to be 66.7%, 100% and 91.3%, respectively (p<0.001) while those of physical examination were 71.4%, 98.3% and 91.3%, respectively. Small differences were observed between the sensitivities and specificities of the two examinations; however, the accuracies were the same (p<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, which was used for diagnosis of tendon rupture using ultrasonography, was found to be 0.985 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.929-0.999),while that of physical examination was 0.938 (95% CI: 0.861-0.980).
CONCLUSION
Ultrasonography can be used an effective diagnostic tool for patients with finger tendon injury.

Keyword

Ultrasonography; Tendons; Fingers

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Fingers*
Hand
Humans
Lacerations
Physical Examination
ROC Curve
Rupture
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tendon Injuries*
Tendons
Ultrasonography*
Wounds and Injuries