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Instrumental diagnostics of osteoarthritis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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For the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, various instrumental methods of investigation are currently being used to diagnose osteoarthritis for greater accuracy, assessment of the dynamics of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment: X-rays, arthroscopy, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scintigraphy, thermal imaging.
With the help of these techniques, it is possible to evaluate the thickness of cartilage and synovial membrane, to reveal the presence of erosions in the cartilage, to determine the nature and amount of fluid in various parts of the joints. Especially it is necessary to emphasize the earliest changes in osteoarthritis : from slight roughness of the cartilage to deep erosions.
[Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a direct visual examination of the joint cavity. It allows to establish inflammatory, traumatic or degenerative lesions of meniscuses, ligamentous apparatus, cartilage, synovial membrane. In this case, it is possible to perform a targeted biopsy of the affected joint sites.
Histomorphological methods - biopsy of the synovium
Biopsy of the synovium is carried out in two ways - by using joint puncture or during arthroscopy. In the future, various pathomorphological changes in synovia, characteristic of certain nosological forms of joint damage, will be characterized. In case of diffuse connective tissue diseases, a biopsy of the skin and internal organs is also performed.
Radioisotope scintigraphy
Radioisotope scintigraphy of joints is carried out with the help of osteotropic radiopharmaceuticals (pyrophosphate, etc.) labeled with 99Tc. These preparations predominantly accumulate in places of active bone and collagen metabolism. Especially intensively, they accumulate in the inflamed joints, as seen on the scintigram of the joints.
The method of radioisotope scintigraphy is used for early diagnosis of arthritis, detection of subclinical phases of joint damage, differential diagnosis of inflammatory and dystrophic joint injuries.
Thermography
Thermography (thermal imaging) is a method of studying the intensity of infrared radiation by tissues. With the help of this method, the temperature of the skin in the area of the joints is measured remotely, which is recorded on the photographic paper as a contour shadow of the joint.
The method can be considered visualizing and at the same time indicator, as it allows to judge the activity of inflammatory lesion of joints.