Neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjects
Objectives: To obtain normative high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) data for thickness of the serratus anterior, the trapezius and the rhomboid major muscles and diameter of their corresponding nerves, the long thoracic, the spinal accessory and the dorsal scapular nerve. Moreover, we aimed to examine...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Clinical Neurophysiology Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467981X21000056 |
| _version_ | 1819006098561040384 |
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| author | Sara Silkjær Bak Birger Johnsen Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen Kaj Døssing Erisela Qerama |
| author_facet | Sara Silkjær Bak Birger Johnsen Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen Kaj Døssing Erisela Qerama |
| author_sort | Sara Silkjær Bak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: To obtain normative high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) data for thickness of the serratus anterior, the trapezius and the rhomboid major muscles and diameter of their corresponding nerves, the long thoracic, the spinal accessory and the dorsal scapular nerve. Moreover, we aimed to examine intra- and inter-examiner agreement of the HRUS measurements. Methods: We included 41 healthy subjects. Muscle thickness and nerve diameter were measured bilaterally, resulting in 82 ultrasound measurements for each structure. Normative data were calculated using regression equations for the lower limit of muscle thickness and upper limit of nerve diameter, taking into account various variables. For intra- and inter-examiner agreement, ten subjects underwent two extra ultrasound examinations and Bland-Altman plots were calculated. Results: This normative data set showed significant correlations between decreasing muscle thickness with increasing age and height and increasing muscle thickness with increasing weight and with male sex. Muscle thickness was larger on the dominant side compared to the non-dominant side for the trapezius and rhomboid muscles, whereas the opposite was found for the serratus anterior muscle. For all nerves, significant correlations were found between decreasing nerve diameter with increasing age and height. Intra-examiner agreement was acceptable in all sites. Inter-examiner agreement was acceptable for all sites but one site for the serratus anterior muscle and long thoracic nerve, and not acceptable for five out of six sites for the trapezius muscle. Conclusion: This study provides HRUS normative data and intra- and inter-examiner agreement data for muscle thickness and nerve diameter for the muscles stabilizing the scapulae and their corresponding nerves. Significance: The normative HRUS data reported may be useful in future studies investigating neuromuscular disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:03:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce03c18be57a439283c4633cecc9318f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2467-981X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:03:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Neurophysiology Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce03c18be57a439283c4633cecc9318f2022-12-21T19:22:33ZengElsevierClinical Neurophysiology Practice2467-981X2021-01-0167280Neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjectsSara Silkjær Bak0Birger Johnsen1Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen2Kaj Døssing3Erisela Qerama4Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 16, Plan 2, J209, DK-8200 Aarhus N, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 16, Plan 2, J209, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 82, Incuba/Skejby, Building 2, DK-8200 Aarhus N, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 16, Plan 2, J209, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 82, Incuba/Skejby, Building 2, DK-8200 Aarhus N, DenmarkDepartment of Orthopaedics, Viborg Regional Hospital, Heibergs Alle 4F Indgang F, Etage 3, 8800 Viborg, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 16, Plan 2, J209, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 82, Incuba/Skejby, Building 2, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; Corresponding author at: Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 16, Plan 2, J209, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.Objectives: To obtain normative high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) data for thickness of the serratus anterior, the trapezius and the rhomboid major muscles and diameter of their corresponding nerves, the long thoracic, the spinal accessory and the dorsal scapular nerve. Moreover, we aimed to examine intra- and inter-examiner agreement of the HRUS measurements. Methods: We included 41 healthy subjects. Muscle thickness and nerve diameter were measured bilaterally, resulting in 82 ultrasound measurements for each structure. Normative data were calculated using regression equations for the lower limit of muscle thickness and upper limit of nerve diameter, taking into account various variables. For intra- and inter-examiner agreement, ten subjects underwent two extra ultrasound examinations and Bland-Altman plots were calculated. Results: This normative data set showed significant correlations between decreasing muscle thickness with increasing age and height and increasing muscle thickness with increasing weight and with male sex. Muscle thickness was larger on the dominant side compared to the non-dominant side for the trapezius and rhomboid muscles, whereas the opposite was found for the serratus anterior muscle. For all nerves, significant correlations were found between decreasing nerve diameter with increasing age and height. Intra-examiner agreement was acceptable in all sites. Inter-examiner agreement was acceptable for all sites but one site for the serratus anterior muscle and long thoracic nerve, and not acceptable for five out of six sites for the trapezius muscle. Conclusion: This study provides HRUS normative data and intra- and inter-examiner agreement data for muscle thickness and nerve diameter for the muscles stabilizing the scapulae and their corresponding nerves. Significance: The normative HRUS data reported may be useful in future studies investigating neuromuscular disorders.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467981X21000056UltrasoundScapular stabilizer musclesLong thoracic nerveSpinal accessory nerveDorsal scapular nerve |
| spellingShingle | Sara Silkjær Bak Birger Johnsen Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen Kaj Døssing Erisela Qerama Neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjects Clinical Neurophysiology Practice Ultrasound Scapular stabilizer muscles Long thoracic nerve Spinal accessory nerve Dorsal scapular nerve |
| title | Neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjects |
| title_full | Neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjects |
| title_fullStr | Neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjects |
| title_short | Neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjects |
| title_sort | neuromuscular ultrasound of the scapular stabilisers in healthy subjects |
| topic | Ultrasound Scapular stabilizer muscles Long thoracic nerve Spinal accessory nerve Dorsal scapular nerve |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467981X21000056 |
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