Acetabular cartilage thickness: accuracy of three-dimensional reconstructions from multidetector CT arthrograms in a cadaver study.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively quantify the accuracy of hip cartilage thickness estimated from three-dimensional (3D) surfaces, generated by segmenting multidetector computed tomographic (CT) arthrograms by using direct physical measurements of cartilage thickness as the reference standard.


METHODS
Four fresh-frozen cadaver hip joints from two male donors, ages 43 and 46 years, were obtained; institutional review board approval for cadaver research was also obtained. Sixteen holes were drilled perpendicular to the cartilage of four cadaveric acetabula (two specimens). Hip capsules were surgically closed, injected with contrast material, and scanned by using multidetector CT. After scanning, 5.3-mmcores were harvested concentrically at each drill hole and cartilage thickness was measured with a microscope. Cartilage was reconstructed in 3D by using commercial software. Segmentations were repeated by two authors. Reconstructed cartilage thickness was determined by using a published algorithm. Bland-Altman plots and linear regression were used to assess accuracy. Repeatability was quantified by using the coefficient of variation, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), repeatability coefficient, and percentage variability.


RESULTS
Cartilage was reconstructed to a bias of -0.13 mm and a repeatability coefficient of + or - 0.46 mm. Regression of the scatterplots indicated a tendency for multidetector CT to overestimate thickness. Intra- and interobserver repeatability were very good. For intraobserver correlation, the coefficient of variation was 14.80%, the ICC was 0.88, the repeatability coefficient was 0.55 mm, and the percentage variability was 11.77%. For interobserver correlation, the coefficient of variation was 13.47%, the ICC was 0.90, the repeatability coefficient was 0.52 mm, and the percentage variability was 11.63%.


CONCLUSIONS
Assuming that an accuracy of approximately + or - 0.5 mm is sufficient, reconstructions of cartilage geometry from multidetector CT arthrographic data could be used as a preoperative surgical planning tool.
Allen
Bryce C
BC
Department of Orthopaedics, Harold K. Dunn Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Room A100, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Peters
Christopher L
CL
Brown
Nicholas A T
NA
Anderson
Andrew E
AE
D000077:Acetabulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*