AnalyzeDirect 
The menisci are “c” shaped fibrocartilage structures that act as cushions in the knee joint and contribute to its lubrication and nourishment. These two crescent shaped pads of tissue, which sit between the femur and the tibia, transfer the load from the upper to the lower leg, reduce friction during circular movements and absorb shocks within the knee during impacts.
One of the most common reasons for knee pain is injury to the meniscus. A partial or total tear of a meniscus may occur when one rotates or quickly twists the upper leg while the foot is still firmly planted. Damage to this structure is almost always followed by the development of knee osteoarthritis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which this laceration may cause this degenerative disorder are yet not fully understood and warrant further investigation.
Urged by the importance of finding new ways to prevent osteoarthritis, researchers from the University of Eastern Finland evaluated whether contrast-enhanced computed tomography could be a useful imaging technique in the identification of meniscal injury or spontaneous degeneration. In one of their recent studies, the investigators compared findings from the scans of 26 human menisci to biomechanical measurements and histological analysis of the samples.
From CT images, Analyze software was used to segment meniscal tissue and define three regions of interest: anterior, central and posterior meniscus. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography proved to be a useful tool for determining the mechanical properties of the cartilage tissue and its compositional constituents in all three regions. In fact, diffusion of the contrast agent applied in this method strongly related to the presence of compression and friction, tissue thickness and permeability, and proteoglycan and water content, all indicators of tissue integrity.
Findings from this study indicate that contrast-enhanced computed tomography may be a powerful, accurate, quantitative, and non-destructive tool for in vivo evaluation of the meniscus and for detection of degenerative changes in early osteoarthritis.
Related: Patella Adaptation to Long-Term Load Intake
Tags: Orthopedic, Osteoarthritis