Quantifying Patellar Tendon Microstructure Using DTI

Overview

The goal of this observational study is to understand how diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) relates to other traditional measures and knee function. The main question it aims to answer is: Will regions of known patellar tendon pathology present with smaller DTI scalar parameters, shorter fiber length, and lower fiber density compared to the contralateral tendon and healthy regions in the ipsilateral tendon. Participants will: * undergo MRI and ultrasound imaging * perform knee function test * complete questionnaires

Patellar tendon injuries are commonly accompanied by macrostructural alterations captured on common imaging modalities, and the extent of these alterations correlate to knee joint function. Evidence for using tendon macrostructure for diagnosis and prognosis of tendon injuries is not as clear, suggesting that these imaging modalities are not providing a complete picture of the alterations. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography can quantify tendon microstructures that underlie the alterations in pathological tendons and shows promising results in healthy tendons. This study is the first step in evaluating whether tendon microstructure captured using DTI technology can be applied as a biomarker to optimize treatment for patellar tendon injuries.

Conditions

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Eligibility

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Outcomes