Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cartilage Resurfacing Procedures

Recent advances in imaging technology have provided clinicians with multiple options for the evaluation of patients after cartilage resurfacing procedures. These methods, primarily performed with magnetic resonance imaging, provide a noninvasive assessment of cartilage health. Novel imaging sequences can evaluate the structure of the collagen network and biochemical composition of the repair tissue, among other properties. Quantitative imaging, including T1ρ, T2 T2 star, diffusion-weighted imaging, and sodium imaging, has the potential to replace second-look arthroscopy as the gold standard for a longitudinal assessment after cartilage resurfacing. Multiple clinical studies have employed these methods after various resurfacing methods, with promising early results. The purpose of this article is to review multiple different imaging methods for quantitative evaluation of cartilage, including advantages and disadvantages of these techniques and an overview of preclinical and clinical studies of quantitative imaging after cartilage resurfacing.