3-D T1 relaxation time measurements in an equine model of mild post-traumatic osteoarthritis using MB-SWIFT

Abstract

In this study, we examined the variation in T1 relaxation times in a mild OA model of surgically grooved (sharp and blunt) articular cartilage of equine carpal joints. The study revealed that T1 relaxation time is significantly increased in bluntly-grooved cartilage with respect to control cartilage. No significant differences between sharply-grooved and control groups were seen for T1 relaxation. Moreover, strong variations in T1 relaxation times and proteoglycan (PG) contents were observed in the superficial half of the cartilage. T1 relaxation times correlated weakly (R≈0.33) with equilibrium mechanical modulus and with PG content (R≈0.23).