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ABSTRACT: Objective
Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) is increasingly being used in the evaluation of pediatric musculoskeletal diseases. In order to provide objective assessments of arthritis, reliable MSUS scoring systems are needed. Recently, joint-specific scoring systems for arthritis of the pediatric elbow, wrist, and finger joints were proposed by the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) MSUS workgroup. This study aimed to assess the reliability of these scoring systems when used by sonographers with different levels of expertise.Methods
Members of the CARRA MSUS workgroup attended training sessions for scoring the elbow, wrist, and finger. Subsequently, scoring exercises of B mode and power Doppler (PD) mode still images for each joint were performed. Interreader reliability was determined using 2-way single-score intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for synovitis and Cohen [Formula: see text] for tenosynovitis.Results
Seventeen pediatric rheumatologists with different levels of MSUS expertise (1-15 yrs) completed a 2-hour training session and calibration exercise for each joint. Excellent reliability (ICC > 0.75) was found after the first scoring exercise for all the finger and elbow views evaluated on B mode and PD mode, and for all of the wrist views on B mode. After a second training session and a scoring exercise, the wrist PD mode views reached excellent reliability as well.Conclusion
The preliminary CARRA MSUS scoring systems for assessing arthritis of the pediatric elbow, wrist, and finger joints demonstrate excellent reliability among pediatric MSUS sonographers with different levels of expertise. With further validation, this reliable joint-specific scoring system could serve as a clinical tool and scientific outcome measure.
SUBMITTER: Vega-Fernandez P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9898106 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Vega-Fernandez Patricia P Esteban Ysabella Y Oberle Edward E Proulx-Gauthier Jean-Philippe JP Clark Matthew M Shenoi Susan S Thatayatikom Akaluck A Benham Heather H Brunner Emily J EJ Woolnough Leandra L Henrickson Michael M Pratt Laura R LR De Ranieri Deirdre D Hoffmann Sarah S Janow Ginger G Bukulmez Hulya H Altaye Mekibib M Cassedy Amy A Ting Tracy V TV Roth Johannes J
The Journal of rheumatology 20221001 2
<h4>Objective</h4>Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) is increasingly being used in the evaluation of pediatric musculoskeletal diseases. In order to provide objective assessments of arthritis, reliable MSUS scoring systems are needed. Recently, joint-specific scoring systems for arthritis of the pediatric elbow, wrist, and finger joints were proposed by the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) MSUS workgroup. This study aimed to assess the reliability of these scoring sy ...[more]