Alexander Pfeil MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Joachim Böttcher, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bettina Elisabeth Seidl, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hans Joachim Mentzel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Andreas Hansch MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Werner Alois Kaiser MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Researcher, Siemens AG Researcher, Bayer AG (Berlex Inc) Researcher, General Electric Company (Amersham plc) Researcher, Suros Surgical Systems, Inc Researcher, C. R. Bard, Inc Researcher, Boston Scientific Corporation Researcher, Galil Researcher, Invivo Researcher, Confirma Researcher, CAD Sciences Researcher, Carl-Zeiss

To introduce reference data for computer-aided joint space analysis (CAJSA), which consists of a semi-automated and computer-aided diagnostic system for the measurement of joint space width, and the quantification of gender-specific and age-related differences.

869 subjects were enrolled (351 female/518 male) with radiographs of the hand. All patients underwent measurements of joint space distances at the metacarpal-phalangeal articulation (JSD-MCP) of the first to fifth finger using CAJSA-technology (Radiogrammetry Kit, Version 1.3.6; Sectra; Sweden). This CAJSA-technique performed a joint space analysis of a finger joint by detection of the joint edges within a rectangular Region of Interest (ROI). The software based on an edge filtering of the ROI and automatically determined the distance between the two edges. The distance between the bone edges were given in cm

In men JSD-MCP (total) significantly decreased (-44.4 %) from 0.27 cm ± 0.03 cm (age under 10 years) to 0.15 cm ± 0.03 cm (age over 90 years) in a continuous manner. In women JSD-MCP (total) also showed a significant and continuous reduction (-47.8 %) from 0.23 cm ± 0.03 cm (age under 10 years) to 0.12 cm ± 0.04 cm (age over 90 years). Additionally males show a significantly wider JSD-MCP (+11.1%) compared to the female cohort for all age groups.

Our data present gender specific and age-related normative reference values for computer-aided joint space analysis which provide a valid and reliable quantification of disease-related joint space narrowing, particularly in patients with osteoarthritis of the finger joints and rheumatoid arthritis based on measurements of JSD-MCP.

Our data present normative reference values for computer-aided joint space analysis of the finger articulation.

Pfeil, A, Böttcher, J, Seidl, B, Mentzel, H, Hansch, A, Kaiser, W, Joint Space Width of the Metacarpal-Phalangeal Articulations in Healthy Subjects Measured by Computer-aided Joint Space Analysis.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5010485.html