BLUE RIBBON POSTER IMAGING: Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Synovial Blood Flow Volume and Changes with Exercise In Thumb Osteoarthritis
Abstract
Purpose
The basal thumb joint is a common site of osteoarthritis (OA) in the hand. Joint inflammation and changes in blood flow regulation are associated with disease progression; however, there is a limited understanding of synovial blood flow changes and the impact on the thumb joint. This work aims to assess synovial blood flow responses to exercise in thumb OA patients using 3D ultrasound (US) to detect and quantify synovial blood flow presentation.
Methods
3DUS superb microvascular imaging (SMI) images were acquired using a motorized assembly to linearly translate a linear US probe. Thirteen thumb OA patients were imaged with 3DUS SMI pre- and post-resistance thumb exercises. Synovial tissue volumes, denoting the region of joint inflammation, were manually segmented from the 3DUS SMI images. Coloured voxels within the segmented region of synovial inflammation were automatically counted with software. Synovial blood flow volumes were calculated and compared to patient-reported pain measures pre- and post-exercise.
Results
The mean synovial blood flow volume was 2.46 mm3 ± 3.46 mm3. Patients with detectable synovial blood flow volumes had higher synovial tissue volumes, lower pain scores, and higher pinch grip strength. In addition, the average absolute change in patients with detectable synovial blood flow volume was 2.45 mm3 ± 4.05 mm3. Patients with no SMI-detectable synovial blood flow had an average absolute change in synovial blood flow of 0.59 mm3 ± 0.80 mm3.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated the ability to detect and quantify synovial blood flow responses in thumb OA patients. These findings suggest that 3DUS-detected synovial blood flow may serve as a biomarker and novel method of evaluating joint blood flow changes in thumb OA.