Computer-aided joint space analysis of the metacarpal-phalangeal and proximal-interphalangeal finger joint: normative age-related and gender-specific data

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to provide reference data for computer-aided joint space analysis based on a semi-automated and computer-aided diagnostic system for the measurement of metacarpal-phalangeal and proximal-interphalangeal finger joint widths; additionally, the determination of sex differences and the investigation of changes in joint width with age were evaluated.Patients and methodsEighty hundred and sixty-nine patients (351 female and 518 male) received radiographs of the hand for trauma and were screened for a host of conditions known to affect the joint spaces. All participants underwent measurements of joint space distances at the metacarpal-phalangeal articulation (JSD-MCP) from the thumb to the small finger and at the proximal-interphalangeal articulation (JSD-PIP) from the index finger to the small finger using computer-aided diagnosis technology with semi-automated edge detection.ResultsThe study revealed an annual narrowing of the JSD of 0.6% for the JSD-MCP and for the JSD-PIP. Furthermore, the data demonstrated a notable age-related decrease in JSD, including an accentuated age-related joint space narrowing in women for both articulations. Additionally, males showed a significantly wider JSD-MCP (+11.1%) and JSD-PIP (+15.4%) compared with the female cohort in all age groups.ConclusionOur data presented gender-specific and age-related normative reference values for computer-aided joint space analysis of the JSD-MCP and JSD-PIP that could be used to identify disease-related joint space narrowing, particularly in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis commonly involving the peripheral small hand joints.

[1]  A. Swanson,et al.  Osteoarthritis in the hand. , 1983, The Journal of hand surgery.

[2]  T. Spector,et al.  Defining osteoarthritis of the hand for epidemiological studies: the Chingford Study. , 1994, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[3]  W. Kaiser,et al.  Computerized Quantification of Joint Space Narrowing and Periarticular Demineralization in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on Digital X-Ray Radiogrammetry , 2006, Investigative radiology.

[4]  W. Kaiser,et al.  Digital X-ray radiogrammetry combined with semiautomated analysis of joint space widths as a new diagnostic approach in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. , 2005, Arthritis and rheumatism.

[5]  J. Arokoski,et al.  Osteoarthritis of finger joints in Finns aged 30 or over: prevalence, determinants, and association with mortality , 2003, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[6]  H K Genant,et al.  Trainable rule-based algorithm for the measurement of joint space width in digital radiographic images of the knee. , 2000, Medical physics.

[7]  T. Spector,et al.  DEFINING OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE HAND FOR EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES , 1993 .

[8]  T. Spector,et al.  The relationship of obesity, fat distribution and osteoarthritis in women in the general population: the Chingford Study. , 1993, The Journal of rheumatology.

[9]  A. Cats,et al.  Epidemiology of osteoarthritis: Zoetermeer survey. Comparison of radiological osteoarthritis in a Dutch population with that in 10 other populations. , 1989, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[10]  J. Thoen,et al.  Hand radiography of 200 patients with rheumatoid arthritis repeated after an interval of one year. , 1987, Scandinavian journal of rheumatology.

[11]  E. Gravallese.  Bone destruction in arthritis , 2002, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[12]  C. Cooper,et al.  Risk factors for the incidence and progression of radiographic knee osteoarthritis. , 2000, Arthritis and rheumatism.

[13]  W. Kaiser,et al.  Noninvasive Diagnosis of Arthritis by Autofluorescence , 2003, Investigative radiology.

[14]  J. Lawrence,et al.  Osteo-Arthrosis: Prevalence in the Population and Relationship between Symptoms and X-ray Changes , 1966, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[15]  W. Jawaid,et al.  Use of digital x ray radiogrammetry in the assessment of joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis , 2005, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[16]  D. Reid,et al.  Predicting erosive disease in rheumatoid arthritis. A longitudinal study of changes in bone density using digital X-ray radiogrammetry: a pilot study. , 2004, Rheumatology.

[17]  A. Malich,et al.  Peripheral Bone Status in Rheumatoid Arthritis Evaluated by Digital X-Ray Radiogrammetry and Compared with Multisite Quantitative Ultrasound , 2006, Calcified Tissue International.

[18]  Ingrid Hilger,et al.  Diagnosis of Arthritis Using Near-Infrared Fluorochrome Cy5.5 , 2004, Investigative radiology.

[19]  Dacre Je,et al.  THE AUTOMATIC ASSESSMENT OF KNEE RADIOGRAPHS IN OSTEOARTHRITIS USING DIGITAL IMAGE ANALYSIS , 1989 .

[20]  H. Dodge,et al.  Observations on the distribution of serum uric acid levels in participants of the Tecumseh, Michigan, Community Health Studies. A comparison of results of one method used at two different times and of two methods used simultaneously. , 1970, Journal of chronic diseases.

[21]  A M Walker,et al.  Incidence of symptomatic hand, hip, and knee osteoarthritis among patients in a health maintenance organization. , 1995, Arthritis and rheumatism.

[22]  W. A. Kaiser,et al.  Potential clinical relevance of digital radiogrammetry for quantification of periarticular bone demineralization in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis depending on severity and compared with DXA , 2004, European Radiology.

[23]  T. Spector,et al.  Radiographic assessment of osteoarthritis in population studies: whither Kellgren and Lawrence? , 1993, Osteoarthritis and cartilage.

[24]  I. F. Duff,et al.  Age-sex specific prevalence of radiographic abnormalities of the joints of the hands, wrists and cervical spine of adult residents of the Tecumseh, Michigan, Community Health Study area, 1962-1965. , 1970, Journal of chronic diseases.

[25]  K. Schwarz.  The Chingford Study. , 1981, Public health.

[26]  C. Cooper,et al.  Factors associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee in Hong Kong Chinese: obesity, joint injury, and occupational activities. , 2000, American journal of epidemiology.

[27]  H J Helminen,et al.  Normal and pathological adaptations of articular cartilage to joint loading , 2000, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports.

[28]  Hermann Brenner,et al.  Obesity, overweight and patterns of osteoarthritis: the Ulm Osteoarthritis Study. , 2000, Journal of clinical epidemiology.

[29]  M. Sowers,et al.  Radiographically defined osteoarthritis of the hand and knee in young and middle-aged African American and Caucasian women. , 2000, Osteoarthritis and cartilage.

[30]  J. Lynch,et al.  Quantitative microfocal radiography detects changes in OA knee joint space width in patients in placebo controlled trial of NSAID therapy. , 1995, The Journal of rheumatology.

[31]  Hans-Joachim Mentzel,et al.  Computerized Digital Imaging Techniques Provided by Digital X-ray Radiogrammetry as New Diagnostic Tool in Rheumatoid Arthritis , 2006, Journal of Digital Imaging.

[32]  J. Cauley,et al.  Serum sex hormones and severity of osteoarthritis of the hand. , 1993, The Journal of rheumatology.

[33]  R. Laubscher,et al.  Prevalence of metacarpal osteopenia in young rheumatoid arthritis patients , 1995, Clinical Rheumatology.

[34]  M. Hochberg,et al.  Factors associated with osteoarthritis of the hand in males: data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. , 1991, American journal of epidemiology.

[35]  D. Felson,et al.  An update on the epidemiology of knee and hip osteoarthritis with a view to prevention. , 1998, Arthritis and rheumatism.

[36]  J. Dacre,et al.  The automatic assessment of knee radiographs in osteoarthritis using digital image analysis. , 1989, British journal of rheumatology.

[37]  M. Nevitt,et al.  The association of radiographic changes of osteoarthritis of the hand and hip in elderly women. , 1995, The Journal of rheumatology.

[38]  E. Vignon,et al.  Quantitative measurement of joint space narrowing progression in hip osteoarthritis: a longitudinal retrospective study of patients treated by total hip arthroplasty. , 1998, British journal of rheumatology.

[39]  J. Kellgren,et al.  Radiological Assessment of Osteo-Arthrosis , 1957, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[40]  L. Sharma,et al.  Higher grip strength increases the risk of incident radiographic osteoarthritis in proximal hand joints. , 2000, Osteoarthritis and cartilage.

[41]  T. Spector,et al.  Patterns of joint involvement in osteoarthritis of the hand: the Chingford Study. , 1995, The Journal of rheumatology.