Estimation of differences in selected indices of vibroacoustic signals between healthy and osteoarthritic patellofemoral joints as a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is currently the most generic form of joint disease. It is a complex process in which degenerative changes occur in the articular cartilage [AC], subchondral bone, and synovial membrane and can lead to permanent joint failure. The primary and most commonly used method of diagnosing degenerative changes is classic radiography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to assess the extent of damage to joint surfaces, but this method is limited by the availability of specialised equipment and the excessive cost of the examination. Arthroscopy, an invasive procedure, is considered the “gold standard” in joint diagnosis. The occurrence of degenerative changes is closely related to the friction and lubrication processes within the joint. The main causes of osteoarthritis are a change or lack of synovial fluid, deformation of the joint bones, local damage to the articular cartilage, and a change in the mechanical properties of the articular cartilage due to water loss from the damaged superficial layer. An alternative, non-invasive method that allows for a delicate assessment of the condition of moving joints is vibroarthrography (VAG). The analysis of vibroacoustic signals generated by moving joint surfaces has an immense potential in the non-invasive assessment of the degree of damage to articular cartilage, meniscus and ligaments and the general diagnosis of degenerative diseases. The purpose of this study is to analyse and statistically compare the basic characteristics of vibroacoustic signals recorded with a CM-01B contact microphone placed on the patella for motion in the 90°-0°-90° range in a closed kinetic chain (CKC) in a control group (HC) and a group of patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA), qualified for the knee alloplasty.