Using Cartilage MRI T2-Mapping to Analyze Early Cartilage Degeneration in the Knee Joint of Young Professional Soccer Players

Waldenmeier L, Evers C, Uder M, Janka RM, Hennig F, Pachowsky M, Welsch GH (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Cartilage SAGE Publications

Book Volume: 10

Pages Range: 288-298

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1177/1947603518756986

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate and characterize the appearance of articular cartilage in the tibiofemoral joint of young professional soccer players using T2-relaxation time evaluation on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Design: In this study, we included 57 male adolescents from the youth academy of a professional soccer team. The MRI scans were acquired of the knee joint of the supporting leg. An “early unloading” (minute 0) and “late unloading” (minute 28) T2-sequence was included in the set of images. Quantitative T2-analysis was performed in the femorotibial joint cartilage in 4 slices with each 10 regions of interest (ROIs). Statistical evaluation, using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, was primarily performed to compare the T2 values of the “early unloading” and “late unloading.” Results: When comparing “early unloading” with “late unloading,” our findings showed a significant increase of T2-relaxation times in the weightbearing femoral cartilage of the medial (P < 0.001) and lateral (P < 0.001) compartment of the knee and in the tibial cartilage of the medial compartment (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In this study, alterations of the cartilage were found with a maximum in the medial condyle where the biomechanical load of the knee joint is highest, as well as where most of the chronic cartilage lesions occur. To avoid chronic damage, special focus should be laid on this region.

Authors with CRIS profile

Leonie Waldenmeier Unfallchirurgische Abteilung in der Chirurgischen Klinik Michael Uder Lehrstuhl für Diagnostische Radiologie Rolf Matthias Janka Institute of Radiology Friedrich Hennig Unfallchirurgische Abteilung in der Chirurgischen Klinik Milena Pachowsky Unfallchirurgische Abteilung in der Chirurgischen Klinik

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Waldenmeier, L., Evers, C., Uder, M., Janka, R.M., Hennig, F., Pachowsky, M., & Welsch, G.H. (2019). Using Cartilage MRI T2-Mapping to Analyze Early Cartilage Degeneration in the Knee Joint of Young Professional Soccer Players. Cartilage, 10(3), 288-298. https://doi.org/10.1177/1947603518756986

MLA:

Waldenmeier, Leonie, et al. "Using Cartilage MRI T2-Mapping to Analyze Early Cartilage Degeneration in the Knee Joint of Young Professional Soccer Players." Cartilage 10.3 (2019): 288-298.

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