UNCOVERING STRUCTURAL DISEASE PATTERNS OF EARLY POST-TRAUMATIC OSTEOARTHRITIS IN A DMM MOUSE MODEL USING CONTRAST-ENHANCED MICRO-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (CECT) is a non-destructive method to assess cartilage degeneration seen in diseases such as OA whilst also allowing for analysis of bone changes [1, 2]. Application has been limited to ex vivo and in situ studies but using CECT in vivo holds the potential to quantify and track structural cartilage and bone changes and illuminate new understanding of disease onset and progression. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to uncover structural disease patterns of early post-traumatic osteoarthritis in a destabilized medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model using time-lapse CECT. METHODS DMM (n=22) or sham surgery (n=22) was performed on ten-week-ol..