Abstract #2802

Magic Angle Directional Imaging (MADI) visualises changes to collagen fibre orientation in patellar tendons after freezing

Karyn Elizabeth Chappell¹, Mihailo Ristic², Donald McRobbie³, Wladyslaw Gedroyc⁴, Djordje Brujic², and Catherine Van Der Straeten⁵

¹Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Redwood City, CA, United States, ²Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, ³University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, ⁴Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁵Imperial College London/Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Does freeze/thaw of cadaveric specimens’ damage collagen fibre orientation? Magic angle directional imaging (MADI) in caprine knees assessed the underlying tissue structure before and after freezing for three and six weeks. Tendon thickness reduced after 6 weeks of freezing. Segmented collagen containing voxels decreased by half after freezing. Voids appeared in the internal tendon structure suggestive of ice crystal formation that disrupted collagen fibre orientation. The severity of the structural changes increased the longer the tissue was frozen. Interpreting results with frozen/thawed cadaveric specimens needs care as freezing damages collagen fibre structure that may impact on biomechanical and other properties.

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