title: 2D and 3D MOCART scoring systems assessed by 9.4 T high-field MRI correlate with elementary and complex histological scoring systems in a translational model of osteochondral repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the 2D and 3D MOCART system obtained with 9.4 T high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the ex vivo analysis of osteochondral repair in a translational model and to correlate the data with semiquantitative histological analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Osteochondral samples representing all levels of repair (sheep medial femoral condyles; n = 38) were scanned in a 9.4 T high-field MRI. The 2D and adapted 3D MOCART systems were used for grading after point allocation to each category. Each score was correlated with corresponding reconstructions between both MOCART systems. Data were next correlated with corresponding categories of an elementary (Wakitani) and a complex (Sellers) histological scoring system as gold standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlations between most 2D and 3D MOCART score categories were high, while mean total point values of 3D MOCART scores tended to be 15.8-16.1 points higher compared to the 2D MOCART scores based on a Bland-Altman analysis. "Defect fill" and "total points" of both MOCART scores correlated with corresponding categories of Wakitani and Sellers scores (all P ≤ 0.05). "Subchondral bone plate" also correlated between 3D MOCART and Sellers scores (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most categories of the 2D and 3D MOCART systems correlate, while total scores were generally higher using the 3D MOCART system. Structural categories "total points" and "defect fill" can reliably be assessed by 9.4 T MRI evaluation using either system, "subchondral bone plate" using the 3D MOCART score. High-field MRI is valuable to objectively evaluate osteochondral repair in translational settings.
authors.affiliation: Center of Experimental Orthopaedics, Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Straße, Building 37, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Straße, Building 37, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address: l_goebel@gmx.de.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goebel
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesia and Surgery, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: david.zurakowski@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zurakowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Straße, Building 57, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address: andreas.mueller@uniklinikum-saarland.de.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Centre Hospitalier, Clinique d'Eich, 76, Rue d'Eich, L-1460 Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Electronic address: dietrichpape@yahoo.de.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.affiliation: Center of Experimental Orthopaedics, Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Straße, Building 37, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address: mmcucchiarini@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cucchiarini
authors.affiliation: Center of Experimental Orthopaedics, Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Straße, Building 37, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saarland University Medical Center, Kirrberger Straße, Building 37, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address: henning.madry@uks.eu.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Madry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012038:Regeneration; D012756:Sheep; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Cartilage repair; Correlation; Histological analysis; MRI; Osteochondral unit; Sheep