1. A method of generating a predictor of osteoarthritis (OA) progression of a joint, the method comprising: generating fractal dimension curves for horizontal and vertical trabecular components associated with a region of interest of an image of the joint; performing a shape analysis to model a shape of each of the fractal dimension curves; estimating a plurality of shape parameters from the modeled shape of each of the fractal dimension curves; and applying a statistical model to the plurality of shape parameters to calculate a predictor of OA progression.