Measurements of morphological and functional parameters of the knee joint using magnetic resonance imaging

Celem była identyfikacja kształtu i położenia struktur stawu kolanowego obrazowanego rezonansem magnetycznym (MR) w stabilizowanej pozycji, w aspekcie rozkładu grubości chrząstki stawowej. Badano prawidłowe stawy kolanowe. Obrazowanie przeprowadzono przy wykorzystaniu aparatu MR typu otwartego ze stabilizatorem kąta zgięcia kolana w przekrojach strzałkowych, czołowych i horyzontalnych, w wybranych pozycjach kątowych. Pomiary chrząstki budującej powierzchnie stawowe stawu kolanowego wykazały znaczne zróżnicowanie jej grubości oraz pofalowania z charakterystycznym przesunięciem fali.The aim of the study was to use the MRI to identify the shape and position of the structures of knee joints in a stabilized position, in terms of the analysis of joint cartilage thickness on femoral condyles, tibia condyles and the patella. There were studied normal knee joints. Imaging was performed with use of an open-type gradient coil MR apparatus with a knee bending angle stabilizer. The research strategy consisted of imaging: sagittal sections in a fixed position of the femoral bone relative to tibia, in selected sagittal sections for stabilized position of the femur relative to tibia for angles ranged from -10 degrees to 50 degrees, at 5 degree intervals, in the frontal sections with physiological extension, in the horizontal sections with physiological extension. Based on the MR imaging, there was measured the distribution of the thickness of joint cartilage that covered the femoral condyles, condyles of tibia and patella. The measurements of the cartilage building the surfaces of the knee joint showed significant variation in its thickness and folds with a characteristic wavelength shift in the tested sections. Variable thickness and uneven structures can substantially affect the conditions of joint lubrication and transfer of the locomotive load. Introduction of the stabilized position of the femur relative to tibia to the MR imaging allows useful identification of particular cartilage layers that work together