Power Doppler evaluation of joint effusions : investigation in a rabbit model

• Published in: Pediatric radiology Vol. 29; no. 8; pp. 617 - 623
• Main Authors: STROUSE, P. J, DIPIETRO, M. A, TEO, E.-L. H. J, DOI, K, CHRISP, C. E
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-08-1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Arthritis, Infectious - diagnostic imaging; Biological and medical sciences; Disease Models, Animal; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Exudates and Transudates; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Juxtaarticular diseases. Extraarticular rhumatism; Knee - microbiology; Knee - pathology; Medical sciences; Rabbits; Sensitivity and Specificity; Staphylococcal Infections - diagnostic imaging; Staphylococcus aureus; Synovial Membrane - microbiology; Synovial Membrane - pathology; Synovitis - chemically induced; Synovitis - diagnostic imaging; Synovitis - microbiology; Talc; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Sonography; Doppler ultrasound study; Animal model; Synovitis; Effusion; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Rabbit; Arthritis; Lagomorpha; Joint; Infection; Synovial fluid; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Arthropathy; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0301-0449; 1432-1998
• DOI: 10.1007/s002470050662

To study the power Doppler findings of septic arthritis and noninfectious synovitis in an animal model.
The right knees of 10 rabbits were inoculated with an aqueous suspension of Staphylococcus aureus. The right knees of 5 rabbits were injected with talc suspension. The right knees of 5 rabbits were injected with saline. All 20 left knees were injected with saline. Serial power Doppler images were obtained using constant-imaging parameters. Images were reviewed by blinded observers who assessed for increased power Doppler signal.
All 10 knees inoculated with S. aureus developed septic arthritis. Each infected rabbit knee demonstrated increased signal on power Doppler on at least one examination, ranging from 1-6 days after inoculation. Only 23 of 45 examinations of infected knees were unequivocally positive by power Doppler on examinations performed 1 to 6 days after inoculation. No knee with talc synovitis demonstrated increased power Doppler signal. No control knee demonstrated increased power Doppler signal.
Increased power Doppler signal may be seen with septic arthritis; however, its intensity and timing may vary from subject to subject. A normal power Doppler examination does not exclude septic arthritis.