Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Acute Pyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis. 2023

Devon M Myers, and Craig Goubeaux, and Brian Skura, and Patrick J Warmoth, and Benjamin C Taylor
OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, Columbus, USA.

The diagnosis of infectious flexor tenosynovitis (FTS) has historically been made based on physical exam using Kanavel's signs. The specificity of these findings has come into question. We looked to evaluate the use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) in increasing the successful diagnosis of FTS. Two adult cohorts were formed, one of patients with FTS confirmed in the operating room and the second of patients with ICD.10 identified finger cellulitis (FC), without concomitant FTS. Demographics, laboratory values, CT scans, and examination findings were evaluated. Axial CTs were evaluated in the coronal and sagittal planes and tendon sheath/tendon width were measured. The tendon sheath/tendon was recorded as a ratio in the coronal (CR) and sagittal (SR) planes. Continuous and dichotomous variables were analyzed and measures of sensitivity, specificity, and predictivity were calculated. Seventy patients were included, 35 in the FTS cohort and 35 with FC. A higher number of Kanavel signs were present in the FTS group (2.9 vs. 0.5, P < .05), with CR and SR both being significantly larger in the FTS group (P < .05). CR and SR cutoffs ≥ 1.3 provided high sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) for FTS. Likelihood of FTS increased 5.9% and 5.5% for every 0.1 increase in CR and SR, respectively, with a 14% increase for every additional Kanavel sign. In conclusion, CT ratios are useful in identifying FTS; and when used on their own or in combination with Kanavel's signs, CR and SR objectively improve the diagnosis of FTS.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011237 Predictive Value of Tests In screening and diagnostic tests, the probability that a person with a positive test is a true positive (i.e., has the disease), is referred to as the predictive value of a positive test; whereas, the predictive value of a negative test is the probability that the person with a negative test does not have the disease. Predictive value is related to the sensitivity and specificity of the test. Negative Predictive Value,Positive Predictive Value,Predictive Value Of Test,Predictive Values Of Tests,Negative Predictive Values,Positive Predictive Values,Predictive Value, Negative,Predictive Value, Positive
D005385 Fingers Four or five slender jointed digits in humans and primates, attached to each HAND. Finger
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000038 Abscess Accumulation of purulent material in tissues, organs, or circumscribed spaces, usually associated with signs of infection. Abscesses
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012680 Sensitivity and Specificity Binary classification measures to assess test results. Sensitivity or recall rate is the proportion of true positives. Specificity is the probability of correctly determining the absence of a condition. (From Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed) Specificity,Sensitivity,Specificity and Sensitivity
D013717 Tenosynovitis Inflammation of the synovial lining of a tendon sheath. Causes include trauma, tendon stress, bacterial disease (gonorrhea, tuberculosis), rheumatic disease, and gout. Common sites are the hand, wrist, shoulder capsule, hip capsule, hamstring muscles, and Achilles tendon. The tendon sheaths become inflamed and painful, and accumulate fluid. Joint mobility is usually reduced. Tenosynovitides
D014057 Tomography, X-Ray Computed Tomography using x-ray transmission and a computer algorithm to reconstruct the image. CAT Scan, X-Ray,CT Scan, X-Ray,Cine-CT,Computerized Tomography, X-Ray,Electron Beam Computed Tomography,Tomodensitometry,Tomography, Transmission Computed,X-Ray Tomography, Computed,CAT Scan, X Ray,CT X Ray,Computed Tomography, X-Ray,Computed X Ray Tomography,Computerized Tomography, X Ray,Electron Beam Tomography,Tomography, X Ray Computed,Tomography, X-Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized Axial,Tomography, Xray Computed,X Ray Computerized Tomography,X Ray Tomography, Computed,X-Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,Beam Tomography, Electron,CAT Scans, X-Ray,CT Scan, X Ray,CT Scans, X-Ray,CT X Rays,Cine CT,Computed Tomography, Transmission,Computed Tomography, X Ray,Computed Tomography, Xray,Computed X-Ray Tomography,Scan, X-Ray CAT,Scan, X-Ray CT,Scans, X-Ray CAT,Scans, X-Ray CT,Tomographies, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Electron Beam,Tomography, X Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X Ray Computerized,Tomography, X Ray Computerized Axial,Transmission Computed Tomography,X Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,X Ray, CT,X Rays, CT,X-Ray CAT Scan,X-Ray CAT Scans,X-Ray CT Scan,X-Ray CT Scans,X-Ray Computed Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Tomography,Xray Computed Tomography

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