Comparative study of two diagnostic methods, ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in measurement of the angle and depth of trochlear groove

Introduction: This study evaluates the efficacy of ultrasound versus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for measuring the angle and depth of the trochlear groove in knee evaluations at Al-Zahra and Kashani hospitals.Material and Methods: It is an observational cross-sectional study among patients referred for knee MRIs at Al-Zahra and Kashani hospitals over two years, from January 2021 to December 2022.The study population comprised 70 patients, which was calculated to achieve an 80% power and a 95% confidence interval.The selection was via convenience sampling.For each patient, a radiologist performed and reviewed knee MRIs to measure the trochlear angle and depth.These measurements were compared to those obtained using ultrasound under similar conditions, ensuring methodological consistency.Results: Trochlear groove measurements were analyzed for depth and angle using ultrasound and MRI across various demographics, including gender, age, and body mass index, revealing no statistically significant differences (P>0.05).Ultrasound demonstrated sensitivities of 81.43% for angle and 78.57% for depth measurements, while MRI exhibited specificities of 93.10% for angle and 91.07%for depth.Comparative analysis showed minor mean differences between the two methods: 0.83 ± 1.01 mm for depth and 1.01 ± 3.38 degrees for angle.Conclusion: Both diagnostic methods proved effective and comparable in measuring the trochlear groove's dimensions, suggesting suitability for clinical use.Given the closely aligned results, further research with expanded sample sizes may enhance the understanding of these methods' diagnostic capacities in orthopedic settings.