Characterization and Quantification of Osteoarthritis in Cadaveric Elbow and Wrist Joints Using 3D Modeling

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic disorder of the joints, affecting 10–13% of the U.S. population. OA can interfere with the quality of life by limiting the ability to participate in activities of daily living (ADLs) due to dysfunction and disability caused by reduced mobility and significant acute and chronic pain. While many OA studies have focused on the weight‐bearing joints of the lower limb, OA involving joints of the upper limb (UL), including those of the elbow and wrist, can just as significantly impact the quality of life, yet are underdeveloped. The purpose of the current study is to gain insight regarding the prevalence and patterns of OA in the distal joints of the UL, and to determine if there are relationships among frequency, location, and severity of occurrence, as well as an individual's sex, age, and prior occupations. For these purposes, the elbow and wrist joints were harvested bilaterally from 15 embalmed cadavers (7F, 8M; ages 63–100, with mean of 84 yo ±10.1), dissected, and the articulations examined. The articulating surfaces for the distal humerus, proximal and distal radius and ulna, and the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum carpal bones were each examined. Pitting and degeneration of both cartilage and bone of the articulating surfaces were digitized using the Microscribe 3D Digitizer, and3D models were created and subsequently analyzed via Rhinoceros 5 software. Quantitative analyses of the OA at each articulating surface was used to construct a descriptive comparison of the severity of degeneration on a 4‐point scale (i.e., 0 to 3) ranging from no arthritis to severe arthritis. Our preliminary data indicate that the presence and severity of OA typically affected multiple articulation sites, rather than single surfaces, suggesting that the pathogenesis of OA in any given individual may be more complex than is typically appreciated. Additionally, our assessments indicate that OA is present in significant degrees and on multiple surfaces of the elbow joints, and this region is not well explored in the current literature. Ongoing studies seek to include additional specimens and ad hoc analyses of OA patterns with sex, age, and prior occupations. In conclusion, the present study provides additional characterization and description of OA affecting the UL, and this information may guide therapeutic approaches to occupational therapy regimes.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.