The thickness of the sagittal bands in volunteers: high resolution ultrasound of the fingers.
OBJECTIVE
A sign of injury of the sagittal bands is thickening. The normal values for the thickness of the sagittal bands has not been described before. Our purpose was to measure the thickness of the sagittal bands with ultrasound in normal volunteers and compare differences between radial and ulnar band, dominant and non-dominant hand, different fingers, and men and women.


METHODS
In 21 volunteers (10 men, 11 women), high resolution ultrasound imaging of the fingers was performed by two radiologists. The index, mid finger, ring finger and little finger were analyzed. The mean values were obtained for each finger. Statistical differences were calculated with a two-tailed Student's t test.


RESULTS
The thickness of the sagittal bands showed a wide range of variations. Statistically significant differences were not found between the radial and ulnar band, dominant and non-dominant hand, and different fingers. Between men and women a significant difference was found for the ulnar band of index and ring finger of the dominant hand.


CONCLUSIONS
The measurements of the sagittal bands show a wide range of values. Statistically significant differences for the means were only found for the ulnar band of index and ring finger of the dominant hand between men and women.
Kichouh
Mimoun
M
Department of Radiology, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, Jette, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
De Maeseneer
Michel
M
Jager
Tjeerd
T
Marcelis
Stefaan
S
Van Hedent
Eddy
E
De Mey
Johan
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult