Evaluation was performed with gray-scale ultrasound (GSUS) or power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS).
Sites selected: clinically dominant hand
Tenosynovitis on GSUS is a hypoechoic or anechoic thickened tissue with or without fluid within the tendon sheath. Paratendonitis is an echo-poor halo around a tendon which may show increased vascularity on PDUS.
Joint locations assessed for tenosynovitis or paratendonitis: 7 sites at 3 joints
Fingers:
(1) metacarpophalangeal (MCP) II, dorsal aspect
(2) metacarpophalangeal (MCP) II, palmar aspect
(4) metacarpophalangeal (MCP) III, dorsal aspect
(5) metacarpophalangeal (MCP) III, palmar aspect
Wrist:
(1) dorsal
(2) palmar
(3) ulnar
On GSUS the changes were listed as absent (0) or present (1).
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Changes on PDUS
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Grade
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no color signals
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0
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up to 3 color signals OR (2 single and 1 confluent signal)
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1
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grade 1 AND < 50% of intra-articular area filled with color signals
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2
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>= 50% of intra-articular area filled with color signals
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3
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total score for tenosynovitis and/or paratendonitis on one side =
= SUM(points for all 7 sites)
Interpretation:
• minimum score on GSUS: 0
• maximum score on GSUS: 7
• minimum score on PDUS: 0
• maximum score on PDUS: 21
