Quantitative Evaluation for Structural Recovery of Injured Tendons with a New Magnetic Resonance Imaging

本项目的目的是用一种新的磁共振成像定量评价损伤的肌腱。1）DQF-NMR图像：在肌腱切开术后3周，损伤的跟腱在DQF-NMR图像上没有显示。但是，当受伤的跟腱正在成熟时，来自受伤跟腱的信号在DQF-NMR图像上变得更高。在常规MRI下，损伤肌腱无法与其他正常肌腱区分开来。利用DQF-NMR图像，通过优化创建时间（τ），这种区别是清楚的。2）DQF-NMR信号：在肌腱切断后3周，未检测到来自损伤跟腱的信号。但随着跟腱的发育成熟，与胶原纤维数量和排列顺序相关的DQF-NMR信号强度逐渐增高，<max>与胶原纤维排列顺序相关的t_1逐渐缩短。3）组织学观察：随着跟腱损伤的发育，损伤肌腱组织中胶原纤维的有序度逐渐增高，利用DQF-NMR成像方法可以定量评价损伤肌腱组织中胶原纤维的有序度，亚慢性期损伤跟腱可与其他完好跟腱明显区分。

The aim of this project is the quantitative evaluation of injured tendons with a new magnetic resonance imaging.1) DQF-NMR image : At 3 weeks after tenotomy, the injured Achilles tendon was not depicted on the DQF-NMR image. But, while injured Achilles tendons are maturing, the signal from injured Achilles tendons became higher on the DQF-NMR image. With the conventional MRI, the injured tendon could not be distinguished from other normal tendons. With the DQF-NMR image, this distinction was clear by optimizing the creation time (τ).2) DQF-NMR signal : At 3 weeks after tenotomy, the signals from injured Achilles tendons were not detected. But, while injured Achilles tendons were maturing, the intensity of DQF-NMR signals from injured Achilles tendons, which was related with the amount and the order of collagen fibers in injured Achilles tendons, became higher and t_<max> of DQF-NMR signals, which was related with the order of collagen fibers, became shorter.3) Histological findings : While injured Achilles tendons were maturing, the order of collagen fibers in the part of injured tendon tissues became higher.With using a DQF-NMR imaging method, the order of collagen fibers in injured tendon tissues could be evaluated quantitatively, and injured Achilles tendons at a subchronic phase could be clearly distinguished from other intact tendons.