Real-time shear wave elastography examination for evaluation of acute closed lateral collateral ankle ligament injury

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical value of real-time shear wave elastography (SWE) in the evaluation of acute lateral collateral ankle ligament injury. Methods Totally 50 patients with acute lateral collateral ankle ligament injury underwent high-frequency ultrasound and real-time SWE examinations. The Young's modulus and shear wave velocity (SWV) of the ligament were compared among subjects with complete rupture of the ligament, incomplete rupture of the ligament, and normal ligament. Results Both surgery and high-frequency ultrasound examination revealed complete rupture of the ligament in 20 cases. Nineteen cases of incomplete rupture of the ligament were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), of which five were misdiagnosed by ultrasound. Forty cases of contusion rupture of the ligament were confirmed by MRI. Young's modulus and SWV differed significantly among the complete, incomplete, and contusion rupture of the ligament and normal ligament (P<0.05) and between any of two groups except between the contusion rupture of the ligament and normal ligament. Conclusion Real-time SWE can be used as an effective supplement for high-frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis of lateral collateral ankle ligament rupture. Key words: Shear wave elastography; Lateral collateral ankle ligament; Wound and injury; Ultrasonography