Quantitative assessment of normal middle deltoid muscle elasticity at various arm abduction using ultrasound shear wave elastography

Lei Wang,Li Tan,Xuanyan Guo,Qin Chen

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-92074-6

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the change in the normal MD elasticity using shear wave elastography (SWE) through measuring the middle deltoid (MD) elasticity in healthy participants at various arm abduction (with bilateral arms at 0 degrees abduction and 90 degrees active abduction) and analyzing the factors affecting normal MD elasticity. Mean shear wave velocity (SWV) of the MD in healthy right-handed participants were evaluated using SWE at different arm abduction, and potential factors (gender, MD thickness, age, body mass index) affecting MD elasticity were analyzed. Different arm abduction positions of each participant were as follows: (i) 0° abduction of bilateral arm (L0° and R0°), (ii) 90° active abduction of bilateral arm (L90° and R90°). Mean SWV was significantly higher at L90° than L0°, higher at R90° than R0°, higher at R0° than L0°, and higher at R90° than L90° (all P < 0.0001). SWV was significantly higher in males at both L0° (P < 0.05) and R0° (P < 0.01) than in females. Neither MD thickness, age nor body mass index influenced MD elasticity. Reference ranges of normal MD elasticity were 2.4–3.1 m/s in males and 2.2–2.9 m/s in females at L0° and 2.5–3.3 m/s in males and 2.4–3.2 m/s in females at R0°, and were 4.9–6.7 m/s at L90°, 5.2–7.1 m/s at R90° for both males and females. SWE is a feasible technique to assess normal MD elasticity at various arm abduction. Our results suggest that normal MD elasticity at L0°, R0°, L90°, and R90° with SWE are different. Moreover, these reference ranges may serve as quantitative baseline measurements for assessment of normal MD elasticity in the future.

Highlights

The objective of this study is to assess the change in the normal MD elasticity using shear wave elastography (SWE) through measuring the middle deltoid (MD) elasticity in healthy participants at various arm abduction and analyzing the factors affecting normal MD elasticity
The major finding of the present study was that MD elasticity was higher on the right arm than on the left one at both 0° and 90° active abduction
It may be due to intense contraction of the MD during arm 90° active abduction

Summary

Introduction

The objective of this study is to assess the change in the normal MD elasticity using shear wave elastography (SWE) through measuring the middle deltoid (MD) elasticity in healthy participants at various arm abduction (with bilateral arms at 0 degrees abduction and 90 degrees active abduction) and analyzing the factors affecting normal MD elasticity. Mean shear wave velocity (SWV) of the MD in healthy right-handed participants were evaluated using SWE at different arm abduction, and potential factors (gender, MD thickness, age, body mass index) affecting MD elasticity were analyzed. Reliability and feasibility for assessing the deltoid using SWE were r eported[3,12,13] This novel SWE methodology to quantify the mechanical properties of the MD has important clinical significance for reverse shoulder arthroplasty. SWE can quantitatively evaluate muscle elasticity through shear wave velocity (SWV) and Young’s modulus[10,11,12,13,14]. The quantitative assessment of MD muscle using SWE may be a simple and feasible method, which has certain clinical significance. Our hypothesis is that if the normal reference ranges of the MD elasticity can be set up, it may be helpful to provide a quantitative baseline measurement for normal MD elasticity

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion