Comparison between Several Ultrasound Hand Joint Scores and Conventional Radiography in Diagnosing Hand Osteoarthritis

This is the first study to investigate the usefulness of a standardized ultrasound (US) examination protocol in diagnosing hand osteoarthritis (OA). We conducted a cross-sectional study including 62 patients, ultimately diagnosed with hand OA based on imaging evidence of osteoarthritic changes with the particular distribution required for fulfilment of American College of Radiology diagnosis criteria. We compared a 32-joint US score (wrists, metacarpophalangeal [MCP], proximal interphalangeal [PIP] or distal interphalangeal [DIP] and carpometacarpal [CMC]-1 joints), with smaller, predefined joint scores, assessing 22 joints (wrists, MCPs and PIPs or PIPs, DIPs and CMC-1), 10 joints (MCP 2 –3, PIP 2–3 and CMC-1 or PIP 2–3, DIP 2–3 and CMC-1) and 6 joints (DIP 2–3, CMC-1), respectively.
Source: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Original Contribution Source Type: research