Magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage repair techniques

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers a noninvasive method to assess cartilage repair, allowing objective evaluation of the repair tissue and insight into the natural history of cartilage repair procedures. MR imaging allows assessment of the percent fill, signal morphology of the repair tissue, subchondral bone and three-dimensional geometry of the joint. The information gained from MR imaging therefore plays a valuable role in patient follow-up after cartilage repair. This article discusses the MR imaging techniques available for the assessment of articular cartilage, including quantitative imaging techniques that allow assessment of cartilage biochemistry. The MR imaging appearance and assessment of microfracture, autologous chondrocyte implantation, and osteochondral autograft and allograft transplantation is reviewed.