FUSS-RA: Foot and ankle Ultrasound Scoring System in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Working group OMERACT > Rheumatoid arthritis

MENTOR:

George Bruyn and Richard Wakefield

Objective of the subgroups work: Develop and validate an ultrasound imaging outcome measure to quantify inflammatory foot and ankle disease in RA for use in clinical research and specialist practice.

1.Development of US scoring system for inflammation in the subtalar joint of people with RA

2.Investigation of reliability

3.Production of a protocol

What is the contribution of the subgroup work to the OMERACT work?

Potential contribution to the Rheumatoid Arthritis (Core Set) and Flares in RA Working Group

Description of the previous work

Systematic Literature Review: Is ultrasound a more accurate technique than clinical assessment and comparable with MRI for the detection of synovitis in the subtalar joint of patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

Delphi Exercise: 2 rounds

Submission of images to gain consensus prior to reliability exercise

Reliability exercise: 10 patients and 12 sonographers

Reporting back of work done since ACR 2017

Publication of above currently under peer review in JRheum.

Further development of protocol with supporting anatomical probe positions and ultrasound images, and videos of probe position and ultrasound.

>70% agreement on all points in protocol

Next steps and discussion points

Publication of the protocol for synovitis in the subtalar joint in people with RA

Undertake a validation exercise with MRI of rearfoot pain in RA (n=80); compare with disease at the tibiotalar joint and determine a scoring system using validated images.