Comparison of cartilage thickness with radiologic grade of knee osteoarthritis

• Published in: Skeletal radiology Vol. 37; no. 7; pp. 639 - 643
• Main Authors: Agnesi, Filippo, Amrami, Kimberly K., Frigo, Carlo A., Kaufman, Kenton R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.07.2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cartilage, Articular - pathology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Humans; Imaging; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Nuclear Medicine; Orthopedics; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee - diagnosis; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Pathology; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiology; Reproducibility of Results; Scientific Article; Sensitivity and Specificity; Statistics as Topic; Knee; Cartilage; Computer program; Musculoskeletal disease; MRI; Osteoarthritis; Nuclear medicine; Knee osteoarthritis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Traumatology; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Striated muscle disease; Musculoskeletal disorder; Orthopedics; Arthropathy; Radiology; Medical imagery; Degenerative disease; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0364-2348; 1432-2161; 1432-2161
• DOI: 10.1007/s00256-008-0483-y

Objective To compare joint space width (JSW) measurements obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a semi-automated computer algorithm to the Kellgren and Lawrence grading of osteoarthritis (OA). Materials and methods Three hundred and six patients (234 female, 72 male) with a mean age of 56.7 years (range 31–81 years) underwent MRI of their knees with a fast oblique spiral spoiled gradient (SPGR) sequence. A board-certified musculoskeletal radiologist graded the OA of all the patients in accordance with the Kellgren and Lawrence OA scale. A previously validated computer algorithm was used to determine the minimum JSW for both the tibiofemoral joint and the patellofemoral joint. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Student–Newman–Kuels post-hoc test was used to determine if there were differences in JSW as a function of OA grade. Results The radiologic grade of OA was inversely associated with the JSW. In the medial compartment the JSW did not change significantly between grade 1 and grade 2, but there was a significant decrease in JSW between grade 0 (normal) and grade 1 and for each OA grade above grade 2. In the lateral compartment no statistical differences were found till grade 2, while grade 3 was found to be statistically different from the previous one. The number of patients with a grade 4 patellofemoral OA was too low for the statistical significance to be assessed. In the patellofemoral joint the JSW did not change significantly until grade 2, while a statistically significant reduction was found for both grade 3 and grade 4. Conclusion This study showed that an inverse non-linear relationship exists between radiologic grade and JSW. The relationship differs for the tibiofemoral and the patellofemoral joint.