Reliability of Tibiofemoral Contact Area and Centroid Location in an Upright, Open MRI (UO-MRI)
Abstract Background: Biomechanical studies are often performed using conventional closed-bore MR, which has necessitated simulating weightbearing load on the joint. The clinical applicability of these biomechanical findings is unclear because of the limitations of simulating weightbearing. Upright, open MRI (UO-MRI) can be used to assess knee joint mechanics, in particular contact area and centroid location. However, it is not clear how reliably measurements of contact area and centroid location can be made in upright weightbearing postures. Methods: Manual segmentation of cartilage regions in contact was performed and centroids of those contact areas were automatically determined for the medial (MC) and lateral (LC) tibiofemoral compartments. To assess reliability, inter-rater, test-retest, and intra-rater reliability were determined by intra-class correlation (ICC 3,1 ), standard error of measurement (SEM), smallest detectable change with 95% confidence (SDC 95 ). Accuracy was assessed by using a high-resolution, 7T MRI as a reference and determined by measurement error (%). Results: Contact area and centroid location reliability (inter-rater, test-retest, and intra-rater) for sagittal scans in the MC demonstrated ICC 3,1 values from 0.95-0.99 and 0.98-0.99 respectively, and in the LC from 0.83-0.91 and 0.95-1.00 respectively. The smallest detectable change in contact area was 1.28% in the MC and 0.95% in the LC. Contact area and centroid location reliability for coronal scans in the MC demonstrated ICC 3,1 values from 0.90-0.98 and 0.98-1.00 respectively, and in the LC from 0.76-0.94 and 0.93-1.00 respectively. The smallest detectable change in contact area was 0.65% in the MC and 1.41% in the LC. Contact area segmentation was accurate to within 4.81% measurement error. Conclusions: Knee contact area and contact centroid location can be assessed in upright weightbearing MRI with good to excellent reliability and accuracy within 5%. The lower field strength used in upright, weightbearing MRI does not compromise the reliability of tibiofemoral contact area and centroid location measures.