title: Sonography detection threshold for knee effusion.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the threshold for detecting knee effusion by ultrasound (US). Five knee specimens from embalmed cadavers were studied. Intra-articular injection of saline, blood and synovial fluid was performed under ultrasound control and methylene blue dye instillation. The smallest amount of fluid detectable by US in the knee was 7.4 ml for synovial fluid, 10.1 and 10.4 ml for saline solution and 9.7 for blood. The threshold for detecting knee joint effusion by US in cadaver specimens was 10 ml for saline and blood and 7 ml for synovial fluid.
authors.affiliation: Erasme Hospital, University of Brussels, 808 route de Lennick, 1070 Brussels, Belgium..
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delaunoy
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Feipel
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Appelboom
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hauzeur
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006833:Hydrarthrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008961:Models, Structural; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography