Meeting Banner
Abstract #0639

Longitudinal Clinical Evaluation of Cartilage and Meniscus UTE-T2* Following ACL Reconstruction

Ashley A. Williams1, Yongxian Qian2, Constance R. Chu1

1Cartilage Restoration Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; 2Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

This study examines UTE-T2* maps in 16 subjects acquired prior to and 12-months following ACL reconstruction surgery. UTE-T2* values decrease to asymptomatic levels in deep pMFC cartilage, suggesting healing of the deep articular cartilage matrix over 12 months following surgery. Meniscus UTE-T2* values in half of the subjects remain elevated or show further increases over the 12 months, demonstrating evidence of persistent subsurface degeneration a year after operative stabilization of the ACL-injured knee. Together these findings suggest that UTE-T2* provides a useful non-invasive tool to monitor cartilage and meniscal status in knees at risk of developing OA.

Abstract PDF Presentation Video

Keywords

abnormality acknowledgments acquisition adjacent although among analyses approved arrows articular artifact asymptomatic bars beth cartilage channel clinical clinically coil collected comparable concentrated concomitant considerable constance continued contrast correlate correlated cross damaging deaconess decreased decreases deep degeneration demonstrating developing development dichotomized differ either elevated elevations eleven enhanced evaluate evaluation evidence examine exponential fell female femoral findings funded generated half hardware horn horns impact informed initial injured injury intact interpolated interval knee knees known lateral laterally likely longitudinal loss manually mapping maps matrix measures medial menisci meniscus monitor mono month months obscured operative osteoarthritis otherwise paired parametric particularly pattern period pixel portions posterior potter prior prognostic radiology ranging rank readout reconstruction recovery relatively requiring resolution reveal risk sample sampling scanned section segmented short signed significantly slices software spirals stabilization stack status studies subject subjects subsurface suggest suggests superficial surgery surgical suspected tailed tear together tool trio twenty twice ultrashort useful variation white year