How MRI is Being Used to Identify Early Signs of Osteoarthritis

Over the years the Radiologists at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have been conducting research on the early detection of osteoarthritis using MRI. Dr. Hollis Potter, Chief, Division of MRI in the Department of Radiology and Imaging, has researched and worked with her colleagues on imaging degenerative changes in cartilage, an early predictor of osteoarthritis. Dr. Potter's research allows for much earlier detection of degenerative changes in a joint compared to traditional MRI techniques or conventional X-Rays.

"Articular cartilage has little to no inherent capacity to self-repair. Once damaged and bone is exposed, treatment alternatives are limited to surgical techniques, ranging from simple removal of damaged cartilage to implantation of tissue engineered constructs," said Dr. Hollis Potter.

"This new technique acts essentially as a 'non-invasive microscope' and may ultimately obviate the need for biopsy or surgery to repair the cartilage. This alone has major implications ranging from delaying the progression of the disease to driving down the economic costs associated with osteoarthritis."

Osteoarthritis is a major health and economic concern, with costs in the United States of at least $15.5 billion per year. Worldwide, osteoarthritis has a greater impact on the burden of ill health than diabetes, asthma or HIV. Up to fifty percent of all disability in older adults can be attributed to arthritis.