Retest reliability of ultrasonic geniohyoid muscle measurement

Abstract

【目的】超音波検査は，嚥下関連筋の形態と嚥下運動 の両方を評価できる検査法である．本研究の目的は， 超音波による舌骨上筋群の評価法について，再テスト 法を含めた，検者内・検者間信頼性を確認することで ある． 【方法】検者３名が，健常成人 10 名を対象に，超音 波でオトガイ舌骨筋の長さや面積，嚥下時の筋短縮率 を計測した．それぞれの計測結果から，検者内信頼性 と再テスト信頼性，検者間信頼性を，級内相関係数 （ICC）を用いて検討した． 【結果】検者内信頼性と再テスト信頼性は，すべての 評価項目で，ICC 0.8 以上と良好な結果であった．検 者間信頼性は，嚥下時のオトガイ舌骨筋の長さと，オ トガイ舌骨筋面積が ICC 0.8 以上，安静時のオトガイ 舌骨筋の長さと，オトガイ舌骨筋の短縮率が ICC 0.6 以上であった． 【考察】本評価法は，同一検者が実施する方が，信頼 性が高いと考えられた．また，期間を空けて評価を行っ た場合でも，信頼性が高いことが示唆された． Objective: Ultrasonography can be used to assess both the morphology and movement of the muscles of deglutition. This study investigated the intratester, intertester, and retest reliability of ultrasonic assessments of the suprahyoid muscle group. Methods: Three testers performed ultrasonographic measurements of the length and area of the geniohyoid muscle in 10 healthy adults, and the contraction ratio during swallowing. Results were compared using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) to determine intratester, retest, and intertester reliabilities. Results: Intratester and retest reliabilities were very good, with ICCs ≥0.8 for all assessment parameters. In intertester reliability, ICCs were ≥0.8 for geniohyoid muscle length and area during swallowing and ≥0.6 for geniohyoid muscle length at rest and contraction ratio. Discussion: These results indicate high reliability of this assessment method for assessments made by the same individual, with reliability of the method remaining high for assessments performed at intervals.