Quantification of ankle articular cartilage topography and thickness using a high resolution stereophotography system

Abstract

The reported stereophotographic technique may be used as an independent gold standard for validation of the accuracy of quantitative cartilage measurements made using magnetic resonance imaging. The thickness distribution maps show that the thickest articular cartilage occurs over the talar shoulders where osteochondral lesions commonly occur and not in the centre of the talar dome as commonly believed.

Effect of Implantation Accuracy on Ankle Contact Mechanics with a Metallic Focal Resurfacing Implant

“…As part of a prior study, a cadaveric ankle joint was disarticulated, and the cartilage surfaces of the tibia and talus were imaged with a highly accurate (± 2 mm) stereophotography system 30 . The cartilage was then dissolved in a 5% sodium hypochlorite solution, and the denuded subchondral bone surfaces were imaged.…”

“…Excision and curettage alone have been reported to provide good-to-excellent results in 60% to 80% of cases 29 , but that leaves 20% to 40% that do not do well and require further treatment. Because of the geometric complexity of the ankle and the relative thinness of its cartilage 30 , the use of focal resurfacing implants to treat talar osteochondral defects presents challenges with regard to implant design, selection, and surgical placement that are greater than those associated with joint surfaces with a quasi-spherical contour (e.g., the femoral head and the humeral head) or with relatively simple morphology and thicker cartilage (e.g., the femoral condyles and the patellar groove).…”

Comparison of Third Toe Joint Cartilage Thickness to That of the Finger Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) Joint to Determine Suitability for Transplantation in PIP Joint Reconstruction

“…15,16,25,26,29 The joint surface was then visually inspected to ensure that the cartilage was fully dissolved. The cartilage-free phalanx was then scanned using the same preparation and procedure used previously.…”

“…[21][22][23][24] Techniques used to determine cartilage thickness include ultrasound, 23 computed tomography, stereophotogrammetry, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 25 and laser scanning. Although MRI is believed to be the best for musculoskeletal imaging, 23,25 its use for quantifying thin cartilage layers is limited due to inadequate image resolutions 26 and poor reliability when manually segmenting the cartilage layer. 18,25,26 Three-dimensional laser scanning is an established method of determining cartilage thickness, and it offers the precision necessary to investigate thin cartilage morphology.…”

“…Although MRI is believed to be the best for musculoskeletal imaging, 23,25 its use for quantifying thin cartilage layers is limited due to inadequate image resolutions 26 and poor reliability when manually segmenting the cartilage layer. 18,25,26 Three-dimensional laser scanning is an established method of determining cartilage thickness, and it offers the precision necessary to investigate thin cartilage morphology. 18,25,27,28 This study aimed to use a 3-dimensional laser scanning method to quantify and compare cartilage thickness in the third toe and finger proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints in 3 grafting arrangements (Fig.…”