Clinical features versus MRI findings in athletes with osteoarthritis of the knee

Abstract EN

Objective : The purpose of this work was to evaluate the association between clinical features (knee pain and stiffness) and structural abnormalities found at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in athletes with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

Methodology : MR images of the knee were obtained from 40 (8 [20 %] women, 32 [80 %] men ; median age, 33years ; range, (25-40) years) patients in whom symptomatic OA at multiple joint sites was diagnosed.

MR images were analyzed for various abnormalities of OA.

All patients were interviewed concerning pain and stiffness in the knee that was imaged.

Results : There was significant correlation was found between patellofemoral osteophyte and pain.

A large joint effusion was associated with pain and stiffness, an association was found between meniscal defects (tear) with pain and stiffness.

All other imaging findings, including focal or diffuse cartilaginous abnormalities (reduction of thickness of cartilage), subchondral cysts, bone marrow edema, subluxation of the meniscus, or Baker cysts, were not significantly correlated with symptoms.

Conclusions : These results indicate that there was significant correlation between clinical symptoms and structural findings found on MR images in athletes with OA of the knee.

Significant correlation was found between patellofemoral osteophytes and pain, large joint effusion with pain and stiffness, and meniscal defects with pain and stiffness.