Sonoelastography findings of the patellar tendon in Osgood-Schlatter disease

Objectives: There are ultrasonographic findings defined in Osgood-Schlatter disease. However, sonoelastographic findings of the disease have not been previously defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the B-mode ultrasonography (US), Color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS), and sonoelastography (SEL) findings of the patellar tendon in patients with Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) and compare it with healthy individuals. Methods: A total of 36 patellar tendons were evaluated in 12 patients with OSD and 10 healthy individuals by US, CDUS, and SEL. Thickness, echogenicity, CDUS, and SEL findings of the distal patellar tendon in each group were evaluated. Results: A total of 22 individuals (19 males, 3 females) and 36 tendons (9 with acute OSD, 7 with chronic OSD and 20 control healthy tendons) were included in this study. The patellar tendons were statistically significantly thicker in OSD patients in comparison with healthy volunteers (5.68±2.32 mm versus 3.42±0.55 mm) (p=0.001). According to the SEL evaluation, all of the patellar tendons in patients with OSD were of type 2 in contrast with all of the patellar tendons in healthy volunteers were of type 1 (p<0.001). Conclusion: Distal patellar tendon in patients with OSD was thicker and softer in comparison with healthy volunteers. The intratendinous and/or peritendinous vascularity on CDUS was increased in patients with acute OSD. We suggest that these findings could be associated with tendon degeneration in OSD patients and can be useful in the evaluation of the disease.