Quantitative study of 3.0T MRI on the thickness of knee joint cartilage in healthy young people / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore 3.0T MRI accurate measurement of knee cartilage thickness in healthy youth provides reliable anatomical parameters for quantitative diagnosis of osteoarthritis and accurate osteotomy of joint replacement.@*METHODS@#From January 2013 to December 2013, 30 healthy young volunteers including 14 males and 16 females with an average age of (25.8±2.4) years old ranging from 22 to 33 years were recruited in Changchun, Jilin Province, and a 3.0T MRI scan was performed on the bilateral knee joints of each volunteer. The cartilage thickness was measured on the lateral femoral condyle (LFC), medial femoral condyle (MFC), lateral tibial plateau (LTP) and medial tibial plateau (MTP).@*RESULTS@#In four regions of the knee joint:LFC, MFC, LTP and MTP, whether young men or women, there was no significant difference in cartilage thickness between the left and right knee joints (P>0.05). There were significant differences in knee cartilage thickness between healthy young men and women (P<0.05). In the same sex group, LFC cartilage thickness was thinner in the middle, thicker in front and rear;MFC cartilage thickness was the thinnest in front and gradually thickening from the front to the rear; LTP cartilage thickness was thickest in the middle, second in the rear and thinnest in the front;MTP cartilage thickness was the thinnest in the front, was relatively uniform in the middle and rear and thicker than that in the front.@*CONCLUSION@#In Northeast China, among healthy adults aged 22 to 33, gender difference may be an important factor in the difference of cartilage thickness in various regions of the knee joint. Regardless of whether male or female healthy young people, the cartilage thickness of the entire knee joint is unevenly distributed, but there is no significant difference in cartilage thickness in the same area between the left and right knee joints.

Assessing the racial differences in Q angle measurements in relevance to articular cartilage of the femoral condyle: a retrospective ultrasound study / Evaluación de las diferencias raciales en las mediciones del ángulo Q en relación con el cartílago articular del cóndilo femoral: un estudio ecográfico retrospectivo

SUMMARY: The Q-angle is defined as the acute angle formed by the vectors for combined pull of the quadriceps femoris muscle and the patellar tendon. This study aimed to investigate the variations in Q angle with respect to race. Moreover, this study performed ultrasound to evaluate of the thickness of articular cartilage covering the medial and lateral femoral condyle in volunteers with an increased Q angle. The study included 487 Jordanian and 402 Malaysians with age range 18-23 years. Moreover, the study included 30 participants aged between 18 and 22 years, with a total of 15 volunteers with Q >14° and 15 patients with Q ≤14°. Both Q angle and condylar distance were measured by well-trained medical practitioners according to a well-established protocol. The thickness of articular cartilage covering the medial and lateral femoral condyle of the femoral bone was measured using ultrasound. Regardless of race, Q angle was greater in females. Furthermore, Q angle was significantly greater in Arab volunteers compared to Malay volunteers. Q angle significantly increase with increasing condylar distance in both races. Finally, the statistical analysis showed a significantly reduced thickness of articular cartilage on both medial and lateral femoral condyle (P = 0.05) in the Q >14° group. Multiple factors including race and condylar distance and even the articular cartilage of femoral condyle should be considered during the examination and management of knee fractures and condylar diseases.

RESUMEN: El ángulo Q se define como el ángulo agudo formado por los vectores de tracción combinada del músculo cuádriceps femoral y el tendón patelar. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar las variaciones en el ángulo Q con respecto a la raza. Además, se realizó una ecografía para evaluar el grosor del cartílago articular que cubre los cóndilos femorales medial y lateral en voluntarios con un ángulo Q aumentado. El estudio incluyó a 487 jordanos y 402 malayos con un rango de edad de 18 a 23 años. Además, el estudio incluyó a 30 participantes con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 22 años, 15 voluntarios con Q> 14 ° y 15 pacientes con Q ≤ 14 °. Tanto el ángulo Q como la distancia condilar fueron medidos por médicos bien entrenados de acuerdo con un protocolo establecido. El grosor del cartílago articular que cubre los cóndilos femorales medial y lateral del fémur se midió mediante ecografía. Independientemente del grupo racial, el ángulo Q fue mayor en las mujeres. Además, el ángulo Q fue significativamente mayor en los voluntarios árabes en comparación con los voluntarios malayos. El ángulo Q se aumenta significativamente al incrementarse la distancia condilar en ambas grupos raciales. Finalmente, el análisis estadístico mostró una reducción significativa del grosor del cartílago articular en los cóndilos femorales medial y lateral (P = 0,05) en el grupo Q> 14. Durante la exploración y el tratamiento de las fracturas de rodilla y de las enfermedades condilares, se deben considerar múltiples factores, incluida la raza y la distancia condilar e incluso el cartílago articular del cóndilo femoral.

Cartogenina associada à microperfuração do osso subcondral na reparação da cartilagem articular em equinos / Kartogenin associated to micro of the subchondral bone in the joint cartilage repair in horses

A reconstituição da cartilagem articular danificada por doenças de desenvolvimento, trauma e osteoartrite tem sido um grande desafio na veterinária. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o uso da cartogenina, uma molécula capaz de induzir diferenciação de células mesenquimais em condrócitos, associado ou não à técnica de microfratura na reparação de defeitos condrais induzidos na tróclea femoral de equinos. Foram utilizados seis equinos pesando em média (±DP) 342±1,58kg, com idade de 7,2±1,30 anos e escore corporal de 7,1±0,75, os quais foram submetidos à videoartroscopia para indução da lesão condral de 1cm2 na tróclea lateral do fêmur e à realização da técnica de microperfuração do osso subcondral de ambos os joelhos. Foram realizadas quatro aplicações semanais com 20µM de cartogenina intra-articular em um dos joelhos (grupo tratado) e solução de ringer com lactato na articulação contralateral (grupo controle). Os animais foram submetidos a avaliações física, radiográfica, ultrassonográfica, por um período de 60 dias. Não houve qualquer diferença estatística entre as articulações tratadas e as controle. A terapia com cartogenina, segundo protocolo utilizado, não produziu melhora clínica em lesões osteocondrais induzidas e tratadas com microperfurações na tróclea lateral do fêmur em equinos.(AU)

Articular cartilage reconstruction is still a challenge in Veterinary Medicine. The aim was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of kartogenin, a small molecule that promotes chondrocyte differentiation, in the repair of induced chondral defects pretreated with subchondral drilling. Six horses with a mean (± SD) weight of 342 ± 1.58Kg, aging 7.2 ± 1.30 years, and with a mean 7.1 ± 0.75 body score condition were used. In both stifles, a 1cm2 chondral defect was induced in the lateral femoral trochlea followed by treatment with subchondral drilling. Four intra-articular injections with kartogenin (20mM) were performed weekly in one stifle (treated group). The same procedure using saline solution was performed in the contralateral joint (control group). Clinical, radiographic, ultrasound evaluations were performed for a period of 60 days. No statistical differences were detected between groups in any of the studied variables. Although kartogenin has shown to improve articular cartilage repair in laboratory animal models, the same was not observed in this equine model. In conclusion, the kartogenin therapy, according to the used protocol, did not promote any clinical benefit in equine femoral trochlear defects pretreated with subcondral drilling.(AU)

Degeneration of Acetabular Articular Cartilage to Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty

PURPOSE: This study examined the rate of degeneration of acetabular cartilage by the bipolar head according to time, and also which clinical factors are related to the degeneration of acetabular cartilage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 192 patients (226 hip joints) who received bipolar hemiarthroplasty from August 1996 to August 2002, 61 patients (65 hip joints) were enrolled in this study, who were followed up for more than 2 years and showed no signs of dislocation, infection, or functional problems. A modified form of a computer assisted vector wear analysis program was used to measure the rate of degeneration of the acetabular cartilage. The factors that appeared to affect the rate of acetabular degeneration in the two groups was evaluated. RESULTS: The average linear degenerative change in the acetabular cartilage and the volumetric degenerative change were 0.23 +/- 0.107mm/year and 114 +/- 47.2mm3/year, respectively. The result showed significant differences in activity and HHS between the 2 groups. The HHS showed a reverse relationship with the linear degeneration and volumetric degeneration, and the activity showed a correlation with the linear and volumetric degeneration. CONCLUSION: The acetabular cartilage degenerates faster as the patient' activity increases, and slower with a higher HHS. When surgeons perform hip joint arthroplasty, it is strongly recommended that the life expectancy and the level of activity should be considered when deciding between a hemiarthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty.

Evaluation of the knee pathology by ultrasonography.

Fourteen patients undergoing total knee replacement for the arthritic conditions of the knee were evaluated by ultrasonography (USG) prior to surgery. USG findings (synovium, fluid, femoral cartilage, cyst and loose bodies) were compared with surgical findings. USG and surgical findings matched for synovial pathology in 57%, for presence fluid in 71% and for cartilage damage in 45%. Loose bodies and cyst present in one patient was not picked up by USG. Baker's cyst was detected in one patient.