title: Evaluation of Single-Impact-Induced Cartilage Degeneration by Optical Coherence Tomography.
abstract: Posttraumatic osteoarthritis constitutes a major cause of disability in our increasingly elderly population. Unfortunately, current imaging modalities are too insensitive to detect early degenerative changes of this disease. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a promising nondestructive imaging technique that allows surface and subsurface imaging of cartilage, at near-histological resolution, and is principally applicable in vivo during arthroscopy. Thirty-four macroscopically normal human cartilage-bone samples obtained from total joint replacements were subjected to standardized single impacts in vitro (range: 0.25 J to 0.98 J). 3D OCT measurements of impact area and adjacent tissue were performed prior to impaction, directly after impaction, and 1, 4, and 8 days later. OCT images were assessed qualitatively (DJD classification) and quantitatively using established parameters (OII, Optical Irregularity Index; OHI, Optical Homogeneity Index; OAI, Optical Attenuation Index) and compared to corresponding histological sections. While OAI and OHI scores were not significantly changed in response to low- or moderate-impact energies, high-impact energies significantly increased mean DJD grades (histology and OCT) and OII scores. In conclusion, OCT-based parameterization and quantification are able to reliably detect loss of cartilage surface integrity after high-energy traumatic insults and hold potential to be used for clinical screening of early osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Bont
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brill
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology, Aachen, Germany ; Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tingart
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pufe
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jahr
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany ; Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nebelung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*