Radiological and Ultrasound Imaging Scores in Experimental Sodium Monoiodoacetate Model of Knee Osteoarthritis in Dogs

Experimental osteoarthritis was induced i n six adult dogs by intraarticular injection o f sodium monoiodoacetate i n left knee joints. The contralateral knees served as control. The changes occurring i n joints were followed out by radiography and ultrasound imaging i n the beginning (day 0), and on post injection days 30, 60, and 105. Two assessment systems were used to generate individual scores for each time interval. The results evidenced dynamic and consistently increased scores for left joints i n both diagnostic imaging techniques used w i t h statistically significant differences between left and right joints. Radiological and ultrasound scores were closely correlated (r=0.55, P<0.001) suggesting that the combined use o f both imaging techniques was more advantageous for diagnostics of osteoarthritis