# Novel MRI Methods for Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) / Osteochondrosis (OC)

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $485,784

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)/Osteochondrosis (OC) is an important orthopaedic disease in children;
however, the etiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. OCD/OC is highly prevalent (nearly 100% affected) in
growing pigs causing lameness. Previous work by our group has demonstrated that the pathogenesis of
OCD/OC in pigs involves failure of cartilage canal blood supply, with resulting necrosis of epiphyseal (growth)
cartilage. We hypothesize that the pathogenesis of OC/OCD in children is similar; however, the relationship
between failed cartilage canal blood supply and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in people has not been
studied due to 1) lack of noninvasive imaging techniques to visualize these structures in vivo and 2) limited
access to appropriate post mortem tissues. We have developed a unique collaboration among magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) experts and veterinary and human orthopaedic researchers that will make use of the
exceptional resources at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research at the University of Minnesota to fill in
the above mentioned gaps in knowledge. Our group recently developed and validated MRI methods to identify
cartilage canal blood vessels and ischemic necrosis of the epiphyseal cartilage in young pigs. We wish to
extend these studies to children and adolescents to investigate the maturation process of the articular-
epiphyseal cartilage of the distal femur noninvasively in humans and compare it to that occurring in swine. This
will be accomplished by the completion of four specific aims. Aims 1 and 2 focus on the development/
implementation/validation of novel MRI techniques, ex vivo, to image the vascular supply and cartilage matrix
characteristics/morphology in cadaveric specimens from normal children and from young pigs in which
subclinical lesions of osteochondrosis will be present (allowing evaluation of normal tissues as well as of areas
of cartilage necrosis). Aims 3 and 4 focus on the development and testing of a rapid pediatric imaging protocol
for in vivo studies in normal children and children first diagnosed with OCD. This research will have multiple
benefits by 1) validating swine as a highly appropriate animal model of this important human disease, 2)
providing a method to diagnose the disease at an early point in its development at which time treatments are
likely to be effective, and 3) greatly improving our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9971467
- **Project number:** 5R01AR070020-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Cathy S. Carlson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $485,784
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9971467

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9971467, Novel MRI Methods for Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) / Osteochondrosis (OC) (5R01AR070020-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9971467. Licensed CC0.

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