Infrared spectroscopy is suitable for objective assessment of articular cartilage health

Authors

V. Virtanen, Faculty of Medicine
V. Tafintseva, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
R. Shaikh, Technological University Dublin
E. Nippolainen, University of Eastern Finland
J. Haas, Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology affiliated to the University of Ulm (UULM)
I. O. Afara, University of Eastern Finland
J. Töyräs, University of Eastern Finland
H. Kröger, Kuopio University Hospital
J. Solheim, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
B. Zimmermann, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
A. Kohler, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
B. Mizaikoff, Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology affiliated to the University of Ulm (UULM)
M. Finnilä, Faculty of Medicine
L. Rieppo, Faculty of Medicine
S. Saarakkala, Faculty of Medicine

Document Type

Article

Publication Details

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocarto.2022.100250

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy to detect cartilage degradation due to osteoarthritis and to validate the methodology with osteochondral human cartilage samples for future development towards clinical use. Design: Cylindrical (d ​= ​4 ​mm) osteochondral samples (n ​= ​349) were prepared from nine human cadavers and measured with FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. Afterwards, the samples were assessed with Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) osteoarthritis cartilage histopathology assessment system and divided into two groups: 1) healthy (OARSI 0–2) and 2) osteoarthritic (OARSI 2.5–6). The classification was done with partial least squares discriminant analysis model utilizing cross-model validation. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was performed and the area under curve (AUC) was calculated. Results: For all samples combined, classification accuracy was 73% with AUC of 0.79. Femoral samples had accuracy of 74% and AUC of 0.77, while tibial samples had accuracy of 66%, and AUC of 0.74. Patellar samples had accuracy of 84% and AUC of 0.91. Conclusions: The results indicate that FTIR-ATR spectroscopy can differentiate between healthy and osteoarthritic femoral, tibial and patellar human tissue. If combined with a fiber optic probe, FTIR-ATR spectroscopy could provide additional objective intraoperative information during arthroscopic surgeries, which could improve clinical outcomes.

DOI

10.1016/j.ocarto.2022.100250

Recommended Citation

Virtanen, V., Tafintseva, V., Shaikh, R., Nippolainen, E., Haas, J., Afara, I. O., Töyräs, J., Kröger, H., Solheim, J., Zimmermann, B., Kohler, A., Mizaikoff, B., Finnilä, M., Rieppo, L., & Saarakkala, S. (2022). Infrared spectroscopy is suitable for objective assessment of articular cartilage health. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, 4(2), Article 100250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocarto.2022.100250

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