Shear Wave Elastography of the Sural Nerve in Healthy Subjects: A Pilot Study

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Mohamed A. Bedewi, Mamdouh A Kotb, Bader A Alhariqi, Nasser M Aldossary, Mohamed Sherif El-sharkawy, Ezzat M Awad

 
International Journal of Biomedicine. 2022;12(1):34-37.
DOI: 10.21103/Article12(1)_OA3
Originally published March 10, 2022

Abstract: 

The goal of this study is to evaluate the potential ability of shear wave elastography (SWE) to evaluate the sural nerve (SN) in healthy subjects.
Methods and Results: Thirty-six SNs were evaluated in 18 healthy adult subjects. Subjects were examined in the prone position with the ankle in the neutral position, and the knees fully extended; a linear transducer was used [L18-4, MHZ] (EPIQ Elite SW 5.0.1, Philips). Nerve conduction studies were performed with the Nihon-Cohden Neuropack device. The mean cross sectional area of the SN at both sides was 4.03±1.16mm2. The mean shear elastic modulus of the right SN in the SA was 24.92±6.08 kPa, while in the LA it was 26.45±5.66 kPa. The mean shear elastic modulus of the left SN in the SA was 24.1±4.1 kPa [range 19-33.13], while in the long axis it was 23.9±4.9 kPa [range 16.4-30.77]. The cross sectional area of the SN correlated positively with height (P<0.05), weight (P<0.001), and body mass index (P<0.01).
Conclusion: SWE could play a complementary role in future evaluation of SN pathologies.

Keywords: 
sural nerve • shear wave elastography • body mass index
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Received January 10, 2022.
Accepted February 7, 2022.
©2022 International Medical Research and Development Corporation.