title: Thickness Distribution of Glenohumeral Joint Cartilage.
abstract: High-resolution 3-dimensional cartilage-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 3 T to test the following hypotheses: (1) there is a nonuniform cartilage thickness distribution both on the proximal humerus and on the glenoid surface and (2) the glenohumeral joint as a combined system is congruent with the level of the joint cartilage surface without substantial radial mismatch. Inclusion of 38 volunteers (19 females, mean age 24.34 ± 2.22 years; range 21-29 years) in a prospective study. Measurements of: cartilage thickness in 3 regions and 3 zones; radius of both circles (glenoid and humeral cartilage) for congruency calculation using 3-T MRI with 3-dimensional dual-echo steady-state sequence with water excitation. A homogenous mean cartilage thickness (1.2-1.5 mm) and slightly higher values for the glenoidal articulating surface radii both in the mid-paracoronar section (2.4 vs. 2.1 cm, P < 0.001) and in the mid-paraaxial section (2.4 vs. 2.1 cm, P < 0.001) compared with the humeral side were observed. The concept of a radial mismatch between the humeral head and the glenoid in healthy human subjects can be confirmed. This study provides normative data for the comparison of joint cartilage changes at the shoulder for future studies.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schleich
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bittersohl
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antoch
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krauspe
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Orthopedics, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zilkens
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.|3 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Klinik Fleetinsel Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kircher
keywords: MRI; cartilage; joint space; mismatch; radius; shoulder