Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Multimodal Approach to Assess Bone Regeneration and Scaffold Performance
Published on: February 13, 2026
Can ultrasound predict histological findings in regenerated cartilage?
K Hattori1, Y Takakura, Y Morita
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijyo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan. hattori@naramed-u.ac.jp
Objective:
To evaluate regenerated articular cartilage quantitatively by introducing an ultrasonic probe into the knee joint under arthroscopy and analysing the A-mode echogram by means of wavelet transformation.
Methods:
Three experimental rabbit models (spontaneous repair model, large cartilage defect model, treatment model) were examined using our ultrasonic evaluation system and a histological grading scale. From resulting wavelet map, the percentage of maximum magnitude was selected as the quantitative index of the ultrasonic evaluation system.
Results:
The percentage maximum magnitude in the spontaneous repair model was 61.1%, that in the large defect model was 29.8% and that in the treatment model was 36.3%. There was modest correlation between the percentage maximum magnitude and the histological grading scale (r = -0.594)
Conclusion:
Our findings indicate that ultrasound analysis can predict the microstructure of regenerated cartilage.