Characterization of normal and osteoarthritic cartilage using 25 MHz ultrasound

The authors evaluate normal and degenerate articular cartilage (AC) using ultrasonic imaging. Samples of grossly normal cartilage were obtained at the time of sacrifice from the knees of nine adult mongrel dogs that had been killed by an injection of barbiturate. Four samples of grossly fibrillated osteoarthritic human cartilage, including the underlying subchondral bone, were obtained from tissues removed at the time of joint replacement surgery. Imaging methods and results are described. The results of the study suggest that ultrasonic imaging of AC may allow accurate reproducible determination of cartilage thickness, suitable for longitudinal observation. The data provide evidence that ultrasonic imaging is a highly sensitive technique for measuring both the thickness and surface characteristics of AC