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D’Agostino V, Sorriento A, Cafarelli A, Donati D, Papalexis N, Russo A, Lisignoli G, Ricotti L, Spinnato P. Ultrasound Imaging in Knee Osteoarthritis: Current Role, Recent Advancements, and Future Perspectives. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4930. [PMID: 39201072 PMCID: PMC11355885 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13164930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 08/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
While conventional radiography and MRI have a well-established role in the assessment of patients with knee osteoarthritis, ultrasound is considered a complementary and additional tool. Moreover, the actual usefulness of ultrasound is still a matter of debate in knee osteoarthritis assessment. Despite that, ultrasound offers several advantages and interesting aspects for both current clinical practice and future perspectives. Ultrasound is potentially a helpful tool in the detection of anomalies such as cartilage degradation, osteophytes, and synovitis in cases of knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, local diagnostic and minimally invasive therapeutic operations pertaining to knee osteoarthritis can be safely guided by real-time ultrasound imaging. We are constantly observing a growing knowledge and awareness among radiologists and other physicians, concerning ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound studies can be extremely useful to track the response to various therapies. For this specific aim, tele-ultrasonography may constitute an easy tool aiding precise and repeated follow-up controls. Moreover, raw radio-frequency data from US backscattering signals contain more information than B-mode imaging. This paves the way for quantitative in-depth analyses of cartilage, bone, and other articular structures. Overall, ultrasound technologies and their rapid evolution have the potential to make a difference at both the research and clinical levels. This narrative review article describes the potential of such technologies and their possible future implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio D’Agostino
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via GC Pupilli 1, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- Radiology Unit, Policlinico Ospedaliero “Umberto I”, Nocera Inferiore, 84014 Salerno, Italy
| | - Angela Sorriento
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Cafarelli
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Danilo Donati
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Nicolas Papalexis
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via GC Pupilli 1, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Russo
- Clinica 2, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gina Lisignoli
- Laboratorio di Immunoreumatologia e Rigenerazione Tissutale, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Leonardo Ricotti
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Spinnato
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via GC Pupilli 1, 40136 Bologna, Italy
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Azami P, Ashraf A, Yousefi O, Hosseinpour A, Nasiri A. Impact of treadmill running on distal femoral cartilage thickness: a cross-sectional study of professional athletes and healthy controls. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2024; 16:104. [PMID: 38711058 DOI: 10.1186/s13102-024-00896-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This present study aimed to assess the impact of treadmill running on distal femoral cartilage thickness. METHODS Professional athletes aged 20 to 40 years with a history of treadmill running (minimum 75 min per week for the past three months or more) and age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls were recruited. Demographics and clinical features of participants were recorded. Athletes were divided into subgroup 1 with less than 12 months of treadmill running and subgroup 2 with 12 months or more of treadmill running. Distal femoral cartilage thicknesses were measured at the midpoints of the right medial condyle (RMC), right intercondylar area (RIA), right lateral condyle (RLC), left medial condyle (LMC), left intercondylar area (LIA), and left lateral condyle (LLC) via ultrasonography. RESULT A total of 72 athletes (mean age: 29.6 ± 6.6 years) and 72 controls (mean age: 31.9 ± 6.7 years) were enrolled. Athletes had significantly thinner cartilages in the RLC (2.21 ± 0.38 vs. 2.39 ± 0.31 cm, p = 0.002), LLC (2.28 ± 0.37 vs. 2.46 ± 0.35 cm, p = 0.004), and LMC (2.28 ± 0.42 vs. 2.42 ± 0.36 cm, p = 0.039) compared with the control group. Furthermore, cartilage thickness was significantly thinner in subgroup 2 athletes compared with the control group in the RLC (2.13 ± 0.34 vs. 2.39 ± 0.31 cm, p = 0.001), LLC (2.22 ± 0.31 vs. 2.46 ± 0.35 cm, p = 0.005), and LMC (2.21 ± 0.46 vs. 2.42 ± 0.36 cm, p = 0.027); however, subgroup 1 athletes did not have such differences. There was a weak negative correlation between total months of treadmill running and cartilage thickness in the RLC (r = - 0.0236, p = 0.046) and LLC (r = - 0.0233, p = 0.049). No significant correlation was found between the distal femoral cartilage thickness at different sites and the patients' demographic features, including age, BMI, speed and incline of treadmill running, and minutes of running per session and week (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Compared with healthy controls, professional athletes with a history of long-term high-intensity treadmill running had thinner femoral cartilages. The duration (months) of treadmill running was weakly negatively correlated with distal femoral cartilage thickness. Longitudinal studies with prolonged follow-ups are needed to clarify how treadmill running affects femoral cartilage thickness in athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouria Azami
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Alireza Ashraf
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Omid Yousefi
- Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Aref Nasiri
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Nevalainen MT, Uusimaa AP, Saarakkala S. The ultrasound assessment of osteoarthritis: the current status. Skeletal Radiol 2023; 52:2271-2282. [PMID: 37060461 PMCID: PMC10509065 DOI: 10.1007/s00256-023-04342-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Traditionally, osteoarthritis (OA) is diagnosed with the clinical examination supplemented by the conventional radiography (CR). In the research literature, the role of ultrasound (US) imaging in the diagnostics of OA has risen steadily during the last two decades. US imaging is cheap and globally widely available often already in primary healthcare. Here, we reviewed the most essential US literature focusing on OA diagnostics and progression prediction using the various search engines. Starting from the year 2000, our search provided 1 445 journal articles. After reviewing the abstracts, 89 articles were finally included. Most of the reviewed articles focused on the imaging of knee and hand OA, whereas only a minority dealt with the imaging of hip, ankle, midfoot, acromioclavicular, and temporomandibular joints. Overall, during the last 20 years, the use of US imaging for OA assessment has increased in the scientific literature. In knee and hand joints, US imaging has been reported to be a promising tool to evaluate OA changes. Furthermore, the reproducibility of US as well as its association to MRI findings are excellent. Importantly, US seems to even outperform CR in certain aspects, such as detection of osteophytes, joint inflammation, meniscus protrusion, and localized cartilage damage (especially at the medial femoral condyle and sulcus area). Based on the reviewed literature, US can be truly considered as a complementary tool to CR in the clinical setup for OA diagnostics. New technical developments may even enhance the diagnostic value of the US in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika T Nevalainen
- Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, POB 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland.
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 50, 90029, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Antti-Pekka Uusimaa
- Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, POB 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Simo Saarakkala
- Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, POB 5000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
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Oei EHG, Runhaar J. Imaging of early-stage osteoarthritis: the needs and challenges for diagnosis and classification. Skeletal Radiol 2023; 52:2031-2036. [PMID: 37154872 PMCID: PMC10509094 DOI: 10.1007/s00256-023-04355-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In an effort to boost the development of new management strategies for OA, there is currently a shift in focus towards the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage OA. It is important to distinguish diagnosis from classification of early-stage OA. Diagnosis takes place in clinical practice, whereas classification is a process to stratify participants with OA in clinical research. For both purposes, there is an important opportunity for imaging, especially with MRI. The needs and challenges differ for early-stage OA diagnosis versus classification. Although it fulfils the need of high sensitivity and specificity for making a correct diagnosis, implementation of MRI in clinical practice is challenged by long acquisition times and high costs. For classification in clinical research, more advanced MRI protocols can be applied, such as quantitative, contrast-enhanced, or hybrid techniques, as well as advanced image analysis methods including 3D morphometric assessments of joint tissues and artificial intelligence approaches. It is necessary to follow a step-wise and structured approach that comprises, technical validation, biological validation, clinical validation, qualification, and cost-effectiveness, before new imaging biomarkers can be implemented in clinical practice or clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin H. G. Oei
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO-Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jos Runhaar
- Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO-Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Vomer RP, Boggess S, Boggess B. Ultrasound Evaluation of Knee Osteoarthritis. Cureus 2023; 15:e39188. [PMID: 37378133 PMCID: PMC10292167 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.39188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
While radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have long been used in the assessment of osteoarthritis (OA), ultrasound imaging has been rapidly accepted by musculoskeletal providers in both the assessment and treatment of OA. A limiting factor in the use of ultrasound is the proper training required by the user for results to be reliable and reproducible. A standardized ultrasound protocol can potentially address this limiting factor. The critical information to consider in a standardized protocol include proper patient positioning, probe alignment, probe orientation, and identification of the appropriate anatomic landmarks. The outlined protocol considers these factors with the purpose of providing a step-by-step method to assess and monitor knee OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rock P Vomer
- Department of Family and Community Health/Department of Orthopedics, Division of Sports Medicine, Duke University, Durham, USA
- Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Campus, Jacksonville, USA
| | - Samuel Boggess
- Department of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia, Suwanee, USA
| | - Blake Boggess
- Department of Orthopedics, Division of Sports Medicine, Duke University, Durham, USA
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Articular surface integrity assessed by ultrasound is associated with biological characteristics of articular cartilage in early-stage degeneration. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11970. [PMID: 35831407 PMCID: PMC9279397 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16248-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Early diagnosis of articular cartilage damage and repeated evaluation of treatment efficacy are essential for osteoarthritis treatment. In this study, we established a simple ultrasound grading system for early degenerative articular cartilage and investigated its relationship with cartilage biological characteristics. The ultrasound grading system were based on surface integrity (S1a: continuous high-echo lines, S1b: discontinuous or weak high-echo lines, S2: surface irregular) and cartilage echogenicity (E1: with > 50%, E2: < 50% hypoechoic area of total cartilage layer) and verified by surface roughness (Ra; μm) and histological staining. Ra was lower in S1 than in S2, and the percentage of hypoechoic and safranin O-stained areas was positively correlated. Then we examined its relationship with histopathological evaluation (OARSI grade), gene expression, and protein production in responded to pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1ß) stimulation. OARSI grades were different among S grades. The superficial layer of S1 had higher expression of Collagen10, aggrecan, Sox9, and lower expression of Collagen1 and BMP2 than that of S2. S1 responded more pronouncedly to IL-1ß in IL-6, IL-8, and CCL2 production than S2. There was no difference among the E-grades. Taken together, our findings indicate that ultrasound assessment using surface integrity can reflect the biological characteristics of early degenerative articular cartilage.
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