Assessment of Knee Menisci in Healthy Adults Using Shear Wave Elastography
We would like to acknowledge the support of Futian Healthcare Research Project (FTWS2023043).
Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this study was to explore the application value of shear wave elastography in healthy adults with knee meniscus.
Methods
One hundred adult subjects who underwent health checkups at our hospital from December 2022 to February 2023 were selected as research participants. Shear wave elastography was used to evaluate the periphery of the lateral and medial meniscus in both knees. To assess the mean differences in Young's modulus values between male and female groups, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent samples t-test were conducted. In addition, a Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to analyze the correlation between the elastic values of the meniscus and age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI).
Results
There were no significant differences in elastic values between the lateral meniscus of the left and right sides or between the medial meniscus of the left and right sides within the same gender group (P > .05). Stiffness values of the medial meniscus were higher in each gender group than those of the lateral meniscus (P < .01). Additionally, males demonstrated higher stiffness values than females (P < .01). As age increased, the Young's modulus of the meniscus increased significantly (r > .75, P < .01).
Conclusion
Shear wave elastography can serve as an adjunctive tool to aid in the assessment of knee meniscal elasticity.
Open Research
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
