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The accuracy of high-resolution real-time ultrasonic examination of the flexor tendons of the fingers was tested in a retrospective study of 27 patients treated surgically. In ruptured tendons (8 cases) the method proved sensitive and specific, except in cases of partial rupture. Ultrasound made it possible to distinguish between extrinsically developed palmar masses (8 cases) and masses involving the tendons (4 cases). A fluid collection inside the tendon sheath was detected in 5 cases of tenosynovitis, without false-positive results. The post-operative follow-up of surgically treated tendons (2 cases) was easier with ultrasound.

Thirty patients underwent a sonographic examination of the hand because of nodular masses. In 12 out of these, the surgical removal exhibited 5 benign tumors (2 giant cell tumors, 1 angioma, 1 lipoma, 1 myoma), 5 pseudo-tumors (1 granulomatous tenosynovitis, 1 nodular tendinitis, 2 sebaceous cysts, 1 synovial cyst) and 2 congenital abnormalities of the lumbrical muscles. Except the lipoma and the nodular tendinitis, all the masses were hypoechoic or anechoic. The major interest of sonography in such a disease is a precise localization of the mass and the description of its connections with the surrounding anatomical structures.

Ultrasound enables a worthwhile static and dynamic study of the soft tissues of the hand, provided that a high-resolution real-time is used. Accurate examinations are feasible after a several months of training because of the difficulty of the anatomy. The authors, studying 200 normal hands, describe their technique based upon the use of a 7.5 MHz multifocused linear phased-array real-time transducer and the normal ultrasonic anatomy.

The accuracy of the high-resolution real-time ultrasonic examination of the flexor tendons of the fingers of the hand has been tested on the retrospective study of 27 patients treated surgically. The method is sensitive and specific in the rupture of the tendons (8 cases), except when the latter is partial. Ultrasound enables the discrimination between palmar masses developed extrinsically (8 cases) and those involving the tendons (4 cases). A fluid collection inside the tendon's sheath has been detected in all the 5 cases of tenosynovitis, without false positive. The post-operative follow-up of operated tendons is easier by ultrasound.