title: The thickness of the sagittal bands in volunteers: high resolution ultrasound of the fingers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, Jette, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mimoun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kichouh
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Maeseneer
authors.forename: Tjeerd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jager
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcelis
authors.forename: Eddy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Hedent
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Mey
mesh_terms: 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