Comparison of MRI and Arthroscopy in Modified MOCART Scoring System After Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation for Osteochondral Lesion of the Talus

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy have frequently been used to evaluate articular cartilage. Many studies have compared the accuracy of MRI to that of arthroscopy. However, there have been no previous comparison studies between MRI and arthroscopy in the evaluation of repaired cartilage after autologous chondrocyte implantation using the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) scoring system. The purpose of this study was to compare the results between MRI and arthroscopy after autologous chondrocyte implantation of an osteochondral lesion of the talus using a modified MOCART scoring system. Our study investigated 27 consecutive cases in 26 patients who underwent follow-up MRI and second-look arthroscopy 1 year following autologous chondrocyte implantation based on their osteochondral lesion of the talus diagnosis. According to the comparison results of those 5 categories, the agreement between MRI and arthroscopy evaluation results was statistically significant with good reliability in the categories of the degree of defect repair and defect filling, the quality of repaired tissue surface, and synovitis. However, the integration with the border zone and the adhesion category showed poor to moderate reliability. There has been no well-established correlation method between arthroscopy and MRI after autologous chondrocyte implantation of an osteochondral lesion of the talus.

Intra‐articular injection of autologous adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

“…MRI was performed before the intervention and after 6 and 18 months of follow‐up, analyzed in the sagittal and axial planes, and assessed for markers of osteoarthritis (joint space narrowing between femur and tibia, intensity and distribution of subchondral sclerosis, presence of osteophytes or subchondral cysts), signs of inflammation and amount of joint fluid. Analysis of radiographic images was performed using ImageJ and the cartilage was assessed by modified 2D Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score . Data were analyzed statistically by Student's t ‐test, the Wilcoxon sign rank test and Fischer's exact test.…”

Experimental scoring systems for macroscopic articular cartilage repair correlate with the MOCART score assessed by a high-field MRI at 9.4 T – comparative evaluation of five macroscopic scoring systems in a large animal cartilage defect model

“…Lee et al 21 already tested the accordance between the magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score 22,23 and arthroscopic findings following autologous chondrocyte transplantation 24 in a clinical setting 21 . A good correlation for degree of defect repair, filling and surface quality, and mild-to-moderate reliability for integration and adhesions were reported 21 . However, whether macroscopic repair of experimentally created articular cartilage defects correlates with the MOCART score assessed by a high-field MRI remains unknown.…”

Development of a Comprehensive Osteochondral Allograft MRI Scoring System (OCAMRISS) With Histopathologic, Micro–Computed Tomography, and Biomechanical Validation

“…28 The MOCART score includes 9 variables: the degree of filling of the defect, integration to the border zone, description of the surface, description of the structure, signal intensity, status of the subchondral lamina, status of the subchondral bone, appearance of adhesions, and presence of synovitis. Although some components of the MOCART score have been validated with certain repair techniques, such as surgical evaluation of the surface after microfracture 47 and autologous chondrocyte implantation, 48 to our knowledge, there are no prior studies that have systematically compared the constituents of an MRI grading system with reference standard validation.…”