title: An MR-based technique for quantifying the deformation of articular cartilage during mechanical loading in an intact cadaver joint.
abstract: The objective of this study was to develop an MR-based technique for quantifying the deformation of articular cartilage during mechanical loading in an intact cadaver joint at high spatial and temporal resolution. A nonmetallic pressure device was constructed for applying loads of >1000 N to a femoro-patellar articulation within an extremity coil of a clinical 1.5 T MRI scanner. Digital image processing methods were used to determine the location- and time-dependent cartilage deformation in consecutive 2D fat-suppressed FLASH images. Additionally, three-dimensional reconstruction of the cartilage was performed from 3D fat-suppressed FLASH image data. During the first 10 min of static compression, thickness changes between 10 and 30% were observed. Thickness changes greater than 50% and volume changes of 20% were recorded after 3 h. The technique permits analysis of the load and time-dependent mechanical behavior of articular cartilage in its natural environment.
authors.affiliation: Anatomische Anstalt, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herberhold
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stammberger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Putz
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Englmeier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiser
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eckstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology