Differences in the magnetic resonance imaging parameter T2 may be identified during the course of canine patellar tendon healing: a pilot study
Previous studies have utilized ultrashort echo (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and derived T2* maps, to evaluate structures with highly ordered collagen structures such as tendon. T2* maps may provide a noninvasive means to assess tendon damage and healing. This pilot study evaluated the lon...
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Published in | Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 1234 - 1246 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
China
AME Publishing Company
01.04.2021
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Previous studies have utilized ultrashort echo (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and derived T2* maps, to evaluate structures with highly ordered collagen structures such as tendon. T2* maps may provide a noninvasive means to assess tendon damage and healing. This pilot study evaluated the longitudinal relationship of an induced mechanical strain on the patellar tendon with corresponding UTE T2* metrics, histologic and biomechanical evaluation at two post-operative time points.
A total of 27 patellar tendons in male Beagles were surgically subjected to stretching by a small diameter (SmD) or a large diameter (LgD) diameter rod to induce damage due to strain, and evaluated at 4- and 8-week intervals using quantitative MRI (qMRI), biomechanical testing, and histology. A separate set of 16 limbs were used as controls.
The tendons experienced a 67% and 17% prolongation of short T2* values as compared to controls at 4 and 8 weeks post-operatively, respectively. Histologic analysis displayed a trend of increased collagen disruption at 4 weeks followed by presence of greater organization at 8 weeks. Biomechanical evaluation found a reduction of tendon modulus and failure strain at both time points, and an increase in cross-sectional area at 4 weeks as compared to controls.
These findings display tendon healing in response to an imposed strain and present the utility of qMRI to evaluate longitudinal differences of patellar tendon T2* values in a model of induced subclinical tendon damage. The qMRI technique of UTE provides a means to non-invasively evaluate the healing process of a mechanically damaged tendon. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ORCID: Sarah L. Pownder, 0000-0003-2692-7384; Ryan E. Breighner, 0000-0002-2190-3597; Matthew F. Koff, 0000-0001-6969-0183. |
ISSN: | 2223-4292 2223-4306 |
DOI: | 10.21037/qims-20-684 |