Quantitative analysis of scapholunate diastasis using stress speckle-tracking sonography: a proof-of-concept and feasibility study

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and potential clinical applicability of speckle-tracking sonography for the dynamic evaluation of the scapholunate diastasis during stress manoeuvres. Material and methods Two readers used speckle tracking sonography to evaluate scapholunate diastasis during a clenching fist manoeuver in 30 normal wrists. Scapholunate peak strain, mean scapholunate diastasis and the diastasis variation coefficient were analysed. IRB exemption was granted for this study. Conventional and stress wrist radiographs of 26 patients with and without a scapholunate ligament tear were retrospectively analysed to ascertain the range of variation in scapholunate diastasis. Results Speckle-tracking parameters in normal wrists were similar between the two readers (p > 0.2061). The maximal scapholunate peak strain during stress was relatively low (