Comparison of radiography, 3T and 7T magnetic resonance imaging for analysis of distal radius trabecular bone in patients with established or suspected wrist osteoarthritis using fractal signature analysis

Abstract

Purpose: The fractal dimension (FD) or signature of cancellous bone takes into account its composite nature, which is determined principally by trabecular number, spacing, and cross-connectivity. In the knee, fractal signature analysis (FSA) has been reported to predict structural outcomes such as radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) progression and total joint replacement. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lower FSA scores along the vertical trabeculae of the distal radius were reported to correlate with bone loss in those with increasing radiographic severity.