Value Of Spiral CT Arthrography-multiplanar Reconstruction And Virtual Endoscopy In The Diagnosis Of Patellar Cartilage Damage

Objective To evaluate the value of spiral CT multiplanar reconstruction technique (MPR)and spiral CT virtual endoscopy (SCT-VE)in the detection of articular cartilage damage of the patellar facets. Methods 17 bovine knees were used for the experiment. Eleven of the patellar cartilage facets were damaged artificially with the diameter 3 or 4 or 5mm of a drill after arthrotomy according to Reach's criteria: grade 0,normal cartilage; grade 1, mildly or moderately irregular outline of cartilage surface, depth of local cartilage defects less than 50% of the cartilage thickness; grade 2, moderately or severely irregular outline of chondral surface ,depth of local cartilage defects less than 50% of the cartilage thickness more than 50% of the cartilage thickness But less than 100% of the cartilage thickness without shedding; grade 3,complete loss or denudation of articular cartilage with exposure of subchondral bone; Six of them were only incised but the patellar cartilage facets were not damaged. After the incision was carefully sutured, 150 ml of air was injected into the joint, which was then scanned with a PQ6000 spiral computed tomograjphy (SCT) scanner. The data obtained were transformed to the work station, MPR and SCT-VE were used to illustrate damages in patellar cartilage facets. The results of CT diagnosis were compared with what were inspected in the specimens. Results Compared with the specimens, the sensitivity, specificity were 93.1%,100% and 97.7%,100% respectively with multiplanar reconstruction and SCT-virtual endoscopy.T-test P>0.05.Conclosion Comparing with specimens, the diagnosis accuracy of spiral computed tomography multiplanar reconstruction and spiral computed tomography virtual endoscopy in detecting patellar cartilage damage is remarkeble.