Isotropic three-dimensional T2 mapping of knee cartilage with T2

S300

Abstracts / Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 24 (2016) S63eS534

Participants: 57 patients with unilateral knee injuries or post-surgery on ligaments, cartilage and/or tendons were recruited from a single centre over a 6-month period. The exclusion criteria included: joint replacement, known inflammatory arthritis or known radiographic KOA defined as Kellgren and Lawrence of 2 or more in the affected knee. Protocol: each participant had US assessments of both knees performed on the same day by two physicians trained in performing musculoskeletal US and/or two US assessments performed by the same physician 3 days apart. Participants were examined in the supine position, the neutral knee position (preferably 0
), with maximum comfortable quadriceps contraction for the participant. The US probe was applied above the patella in the midline position to visualise in each knee all main structures on long-axis plane in the suprapatellar region: quadriceps tendon, pre-femoral and suprapatellar fat pads as well as shadows of patella and femur. A minimum of 6 images of each suprapatellar pouch in pre-defined region-of-interest (ROI) were recorded. Quantitative and semi-quantiative scoring was performed on the largest area of SH and SE defined using the OMERACT definitions. During each image analysis, a straight line at right angles to the reflexion shadow of the femur (long axis) was used for defining vertical axis for measurement of both synovium and effusion. The highest values for SH and SE in mm, from any imaging obtained during the analysis, were used as results for each scan. Results: 266 knee scans were performed. The study population consisted of otherwise healthy, predominantly young Caucasian males (59% were 34 years or younger, 81% were Caucasian and 74% of participants were males). 35% were smokers or ex-smokers. Affected knees had significantly higher values of SH (p