title: Cartilage assessment of the metacarpophalangeal joints: cadaveric study with magnetic resonance arthrography and finger traction.
abstract: We investigated the efficacy of axial traction of the fingers combined with magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography in assessing the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint cartilage in cadavers. Cartilage was imaged and graded before/after MR arthrography, with/without traction, then correlated with cadaveric sectioning. The application of traction with MR arthrography is a promising technique for improved visualization of the articular cartilage of the MCP joints compared with similar imaging without traction and/or without arthrography, but its true benefit requires further study.
authors: University of California, San Diego, Teleradiology and Education Center, University Center Lane, San Diego, CA 92122, USA. shepherdsuzanne@gmail.com
authors: Suzanne M
authors: SM
authors: Shepherd
authors: Eric Y
authors: EY
authors: Chang
authors: Julie L
authors: JL
authors: Rutledge
authors: Brady
authors: B
authors: Huang
authors: Debra
authors: D
authors: Trudell
authors: Donald L
authors: DL
authors: Resnick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011403:Pronation; D014143:Traction