Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Progression Over 14 Weeks: MRI Study of Cartilage Degradation Following a Sub-Critical Impact

Motivation: Since treating osteoarthritis becomes challenging if it is not diagnosed early, it is essential to understand the progression of the disease. Goal(s): This study examines the progression of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) over 14 weeks following a controlled sub-critical impact on rabbit femur. Approach: MRI T2 mapping was used to measure cartilage changes at 0, 2, 6, and 14 weeks. To understand how damage severity affects the progression of PTOA, the study also compared the effects of two different impact forces. Results: Findings of this study showed that over time even a sub-critical impact can lead to gradual cartilage degradation, with higher T2 values. Impact: Without early diagnosis treating PTOA becomes extremely challenging. This study focuses on PTOA progression through 14 weeks after a single sub-critical impact. While risk factors of high-impact injuries are well known, the effects of low-force impact remain less understood.