HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Disler, D. G. Articles by McCauley, T. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Disler, D. G. Articles by McCauley, T. R.

Articular Cartilage Defects: In Vitro Evaluation of Accuracy and Interobserver Reliability for Detection and Grading with US¹

¹ From the Departments of Radiology (D.G.D., E.R., D.A.M.), Orthopaedic Surgery (D.G.D., J.S.W.), and Biomedical Engineering (J.S.W.), Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University, Main Hospital, 3rd Floor, 401 N 12th St, Richmond, VA 23298-0615, and the Department of Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine (T.R.M.). From the 1999 RSNA scientific assembly. Received July 20, 1999; revision requested August 17; revision received September 2; accepted September 16. Supported in part by ATL Ultrasound, Bothell, Washington. Address correspondence to D.G.D.

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy and reliability of detecting and grading articular cartilage defects in porcine and human knees by using ultrasonography (US).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: US was used to evaluate 175 porcine and 16 human knee surfaces with a linear 5–12-MHz transducer. Porcine defects of varying diameter and depth were surgically created. Each porcine surface was independently assessed in blinded fashion by two radiologists for the presence and severity of defects. Accuracy of detection, interobserver reliability, and concordance between US and surgical grades were determined. Human specimens were retrieved from knees of patients who underwent joint arthroplasty. Defects in human knees detected with US were correlated with defects seen at direct surface visualization.

RESULTS: Sensitivities for detection of porcine defects were 94% and 93% for readers 1 and 2, respectively; specificities were 90% and 77%, respectively; positive predictive values were 98% and 95%, respectively; and negative predictive values were 78% and 73%, respectively. Interobserver agreement was high (weighted  = 0.80), and concordance between US and surgical grades for both readers was high (weighted  = 0.90 and 0.78). In human cartilage, the distribution of cartilage denudation determined at US was the same as that determined at direct visualization.

CONCLUSION: High-frequency US was accurate and reliable for detection and grading of knee articular cartilage defects.

Index terms: Animals • Knee, injuries, 452.40, 452.485, 452.86 • Knee, ligaments, menisci, and cartilage, 452.40, 452.70 • Knee, US, 452.12981, 452.12989 • Specimens • Ultrasound (US), experimental studies, 452.12981, 452.12989

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Kuroki, Y. Nakagawa, K. Mori, K. Ikeuchi, and T. Nakamura Mechanical Effects of Autogenous Osteochondral Surgical Grafting Procedures and Instrumentation on Grafts of Articular Cartilage Am. J. Sports Med., April 1, 2004; 32(3): 612 - 620. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Cameron, K. K. Briggs, and J. R. Steadman Reproducibility and Reliability of the Outerbridge Classification for Grading Chondral Lesions of the Knee Arthroscopically Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 2003; 31(1): 83 - 86. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]