Longitudinal 3T MRI T 2 mapping of Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) lesions differentiates operative from non-operative patients-Pilot study

Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) is an orthopedic joint disorder of children and adolescents that can lead to premature osteoarthritis. Thirteen patients (mean age: 12.3 years, 4 females), 15 JOCD-affected and five contralateral healthy knees, that had a baseline and a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (mean interval of 8.9 months) and were treated nonoperatively during this interval were included. Retrospectively, patients were assigned to operative or nonoperative groups based on their electronic medical records. Volumetric mean T * values were calculated within regions of interest (progeny lesion, interface, parent bone) and region matched control bone in healthy contralateral knees and condyles. The normalized percentage difference of T * between baseline and follow up MRI in nonoperative patients significantly increased in progeny lesion (-47.8%, p