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<p>
<bold>Aim of the study:</bold> To assess the features identified on ultrasound in patients presenting with suspected extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture, and correlate this with surgical findings. <bold>Material and methods:</bold> A retrospective case series review was performed in 11 patients (8 female, 3 male) with suspected extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture. All ultrasound examinations were performed by an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist using a high-resolution linear-array probe. The study evaluated the associated sonographic appearances of extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture and correlated with surgical findings. <bold>Results:</bold> Rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon was identified in all cases proximally at the level of Lister’s tubercle. The most common associated sonographic finding was an effusion in the sheath of compartment III (10 patients); 9 patients also had fluid within the sheath of compartment II. An empty tendon sheath was observed in 1 patient and tenosynovitis of the extensor pollicis longus sheath was demonstrated in 2 cases. In 9 patients, sonography revealed the retracted tendon ends as enlarged and hypoechoic with loss of their normal fibrillar appearance. Ultrasound depicted fracture involvement of Lister’s tubercle in 8 cases (compared to 4 cases identified radiographically). In the 8 cases that proceeded to operative intervention, all of these were confirmed as extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Ultrasound is a valuable tool in identifying patients with extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture, providing the surgeon with invaluable details with regard to the level of rupture to aid pre-operative planning. US identifies associated ancillary features of extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture and reliably detects fractures involving Lister’s tubercle.</p>
</abstract>

Aim of the study: To assess the features identified on ultrasound in patients presenting with suspected extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture, and correlate this with surgical findings. Material and methods: A retrospective case series review was performed in 11 patients (8 female, 3 male) with suspected extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture. All ultrasound examinations were performed by an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist using a high-resolution linear-array probe. The study evaluated the associated sonographic appearances of extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture and correlated with surgical findings. Results: Rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon was identified in all cases proximally at the level of Lister’s tubercle. The most common associated sonographic finding was an effusion in the sheath of compartment III (10 patients); 9 patients also had fluid within the sheath of compartment II. An empty tendon sheath was observed in 1 patient and tenosynovitis of the extensor pollicis longus sheath was demonstrated in 2 cases. In 9 patients, sonography revealed the retracted tendon ends as enlarged and hypoechoic with loss of their normal fibrillar appearance. Ultrasound depicted fracture involvement of Lister’s tubercle in 8 cases (compared to 4 cases identified radiographically). In the 8 cases that proceeded to operative intervention, all of these were confirmed as extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a valuable tool in identifying patients with extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture, providing the surgeon with invaluable details with regard to the level of rupture to aid pre-operative planning. US identifies associated ancillary features of extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture and reliably detects fractures involving Lister’s tubercle.

Ultrasound assessment of extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture following distal radius fracture: a sonographic and surgical correlation

Journal of Ultrasonography

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Aim of the study: To assess the features identified on ultrasound in patients presenting with suspected extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture, and correlate...

Ultrasound assessment of extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture following distal radius fracture: a sonographic and surgical correlation

Article Category: research-article

Published Online: Mar 31, 2020

Page range: 1 - 5

Received: Oct 15, 2019

Accepted: Nov 10, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2020.0001

Keywords
ultrasound, extensor pollicis longus, tendon, rupture, radius fractures

© 2021 Polish Ultrasound Society. Published by Medical Communications Sp. z o.o.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Ultrasound assessment of extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture following distal radius fracture: a sonographic and surgical correlation

Article Category: research-article

Published Online: Mar 31, 2020

Page range: 1 - 5

Received: Oct 15, 2019

Accepted: Nov 10, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2020.0001

Keywordsultrasound, extensor pollicis longus, tendon, rupture, radius fractures

© 2021 Polish Ultrasound Society. Published by Medical Communications Sp. z o.o.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
ultrasound, extensor pollicis longus, tendon, rupture, radius fractures