A novel and non-destructive method to examine meniscus architecture using 9.4 Tesla MRI.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the ability of high-field (9.4 T) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to delineate porcine knee meniscal tissue structure and meniscal tears.


METHODS
Porcine knees were obtained from a local abattoir, and eight medial menisci with no visible defects were dissected. Lesions simulating longitudinal tears were created on two of the menisci. MR images of the menisci were obtained at 9.4 T using a three-dimensional (3D)-FLASH sequence. A detailed 3D internal architecture of the intact and injured menisci was demonstrated on high-resolution MR images.


RESULTS
High-resolution 3D MR imaging allowed visualisation of internal architecture of the meniscus and disruption to the internal structural network in damage models. The architecture of the porcine knee meniscus revealed by the MR scans appeared similar to the structures visualised by histology in previously reported studies.


CONCLUSIONS
High-field MRI is a non-destructive technique to examine the internal structural components and damage/wear of meniscal tissue. It has tremendous potential in the field of functional cartilage/meniscus biomechanics and biotribology.
Wang
M
M
Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. manyiwang@hotmail.com
Radjenovic
A
A
Stapleton
T W
TW
Venkatesh
R
R
Williams
S
S
Ingham
E
E
Fisher
J
J
Jin
Z
Z
D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology*; D013552:Swine; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries
Anat Embryol (Berl). 1998 Apr;197(4):317-24
9565324
J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2006 Dec;88(12):1549-56
17159163
J Anat. 1998 Aug;193 ( Pt 2):161-78
9827632
J Orthop Res. 1994 Mar;12(2):176-85
8164089
Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2009 Aug;17(8):995-1000
19328878
Radiology. 2000 Oct;217(1):193-200
11012444
J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1970 Aug;52(3):564-7
5468789
Connect Tissue Res. 2005;46(2):83-91
16019418
Can J Vet Res. 1986 Oct;50(4):532-6
3791078
Radiology. 1986 Jun;159(3):753-7
3754645
J Orthop Res. 2005 May;23(3):562-8
15885476