Accuracy of model-based tracking of knee kinematics and cartilage contact measured by dynamic volumetric MRI. Issue 10 (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaiser, Jarred; Monawer, Arezu; Chaudhary, Rajeev; Johnson, Kevin M.; Wieben, Oliver; Kijowski, Richard; Thelen, Darryl G.
• Is Part Of: Medical engineering & physics. Volume 38:Issue 10(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1131
• Page End: 1135
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Dynamic MRI -- Knee kinematics -- Validation -- Biomechanics; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Biomedical Engineering -- Periodicals; Physics -- Periodicals; Génie biomédical -- Périodiques; Biomedical engineering; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2016.06.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-4533

Abstract

Highlights: Accuracy of knee kinematics measured from a novel dynamic MRI sequence is presented. Three-dimensional kinematics are tracked with precisions less than 0.8° and 0.5 mm. Cartilage contact locations can be estimated with a precision less than 0.5 mm. The sequence has use in finding links between joint mechanics and osteoarthritis. Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of knee kinematics and cartilage contact measured by volumetric dynamic MRI. A motor-actuated phantom drove femoral and tibial bone segments through cyclic 3D motion patterns. Volumetric images were continuously acquired using a 3D radially undersampled cine spoiled gradient echo sequence (SPGR-VIPR). Image data was binned based on position measured via a MRI-compatible rotary encoder. High-resolution static images were segmented to create bone models. Model-based tracking was performed by optimally registering the bone models to the volumetric images at each frame of the SPGR-VIPR series. 3D tibiofemoral translations and orientations were reconstructed, and compared to kinematics obtained by tracking fiducial markers. Imaging was repeated on a healthy subject who performed cyclic knee flexion-extension. Cartilage contact for the subject was assessed by measuring the overlap between articular cartilage surfaces. Model-based tracking was able to track tibiofemoral angles and translations with precisions less than 0.8° and 0.5 mm. These precisions resulted in an uncertainty of less than 0.5 mm in cartilage contact location. Dynamic SPGR-VIPR imaging can accurately assess in vivo knee kinematics and cartilage contact during voluntary knee motion performed in a MRI scanner. This technology could facilitate the quantitative investigation of links between joint mechanics and the development of osteoarthritis.