Alterations in Joint Loading on Articular Cartilage T2* Relaxation Time: In-Vivo Canine Shoulder Model

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DOI: 10.23186/korea.000000251828.11009.0001221

Abstract

The role of altered articular cartilage mechanics on cartilage condition changes in in-vivo models has not been studied successfully due to a lack of pre-injury information. This study aimed 1) to develop an accurate in-vivo canine shoulder model to measure the changes in cartilage loading and T2 star (T2*) relaxation time before and after unilateral supraspinatus tendon resections, and 2) to find the relationship between variations in articular cartilage loading patterns and T2* relaxation time distributions.

Custom marker sets were rigidly implanted in the scapula and humerus of tested dogs. The movement of the shoulder bones were measured by a motion tracking system during normal gaits. In-vivo cartilage contact strain was measured by aligning 3D shoulder models with the motion tracking data. Articular cartilage T2* relaxation times were measured by quantitative MRI scans. Articular cartilage contact strain and T2* relaxation time were compared in the shoulders before and three months after the supraspinatus tendon resections.

Excellent accuracy and reproducibility were found in in-vivo contact strain measurements with less than 1% errors. Changes in articular cartilage contact strain exhibited similar patterns with the changes in the T2* relaxation time after resection surgeries. Regional changes in the articular cartilage T2* relaxation time exhibited positive correlations with regional contact strain variations three months after the supraspinatus resection surgeries.

This is the first study to estimate the relationship between in vivo contact strain changes and T2* relaxation time following joint injury. Significantly positive correlations between contact strain and T2* relaxation time suggest that the articular cartilage extracellular matrix may responds to mechanical changes in local areas.

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