Precision of arthroscopic surgeons using ultrasound for the first time to measure tendon structures

The precision of a group of arthroscopic surgeons using ultrasound for the first time was assessed when measuring shoulder and hip tendon structures. Twenty-two students and 3 professors participated in a one-day theoretical-practical course. Two measurement rounds were conducted, during which each student identified the greater and lesser axes and the cross-sectional area of the biceps tendon, the supraspinous depth, as well as the lesser and greater axes and the cross-sectional area of the iliac psoas. The mean of the two measurements made by each of the course professors was considered as the reference value. When the 2 measurements made by each of the students of each of the structures were assessed, no significant correlation was found in any of the cases, with a p 0.05. With the exception of the cross-sectional area of the biceps, where there was a significant undersizing of the structure, in the remaining 7 measurements a marked trend to oversize the structures was seen in both the first and second measurements, with a high statistical significance (p 0.05). Ultrasound is a useful method through which arthroscopic surgeons can identify structures. However, the marked trend to oversize structures compared to the reference values leads to think that the training courses and the daily practice are essential to improve the method.