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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Transthoracic Echocardiographic Examination in the Rabbit Model
Published on: June 1, 2019
Power Doppler evaluation of joint effusions: investigation in a rabbit model
P J Strouse1, M A DiPietro, E L Teo
1Division of Pediatric Radiology, C. S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0252, USA.
Objective:
To study the power Doppler findings of septic arthritis and noninfectious synovitis in an animal model.
Materials And Methods:
The right knees of 10 rabbits were inoculated with an aqueous suspension of Staphylococcus aureus. The right knees of 5 rabbits were injected with talc suspension. The right knees of 5 rabbits were injected with saline. All 20 left knees were injected with saline. Serial power Doppler images were obtained using constant-imaging parameters. Images were reviewed by blinded observers who assessed for increased power Doppler signal.
Results:
All 10 knees inoculated with S. aureus developed septic arthritis. Each infected rabbit knee demonstrated increased signal on power Doppler on at least one examination, ranging from 1-6 days after inoculation. Only 23 of 45 examinations of infected knees were unequivocally positive by power Doppler on examinations performed 1 to 6 days after inoculation. No knee with talc synovitis demonstrated increased power Doppler signal. No control knee demonstrated increased power Doppler signal.
Conclusion:
Increased power Doppler signal may be seen with septic arthritis; however, its intensity and timing may vary from subject to subject. A normal power Doppler examination does not exclude septic arthritis.
