Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Normal Stifle Joint in Buffaloes (Bosbubalis): An Anatomic Study

摘要

This research has been conducted in order to describe the normal anatomical structures of the stifle joint inbuffaloes (Bos bubalis) by using the magnetic resonance imaging and the corresponding anatomical sections. Theanatomical slices were used to facilitate the interpretation of the MRI images, and therefore the diagnosis for stifle relateddiseases would be much easier. The hind limbs of ten healthy adult buffaloes (Twenty stifle joints) were used. Afterslaughtering, MR images were made in sagittal, transverse, and dorsal planes. After that, the limbs were sectioned byusing an electric band saw according to the corresponding MRI images after freezing at -20° for 48 hours. Clinicallyrelevant anatomic structures were identified and labeled at each level of the matching images (MR and anatomic slices).MRI images were used to recognize the bony and soft tissue structures of the stifle joint. The articular cartilage appearedas line of hyperintensity which was separated from the subcondral bone by gray line (moderate signal intensity). It wasdifficult to differentiate between the synovia, infrapatellar fat body and the articular cartilage because of the similarhyperintensity. The meniscial, femoropatellar and cruciate ligaments were recognized as moderate signal intensity. Thecollateral ligaments and intermediate patellar ligaments, and the common tendon of the Mm. extensor digitorum longusand peroneus tertius, as well as, the menisci and the medial patellar fibrocartilage appeared as hypointense signal.The knowledge of normal anatomy of the stifle joint would serve as initial reference and guide for the stifle diagnosis ofthe suspected buffaloes by using MRI technique.