Osteophytes mediate the associations between cartilage morphology and changes in knee symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Aims To investigate whether the associations between cartilage defects and cartilage volumes with changes in knee symptoms were mediated by osteophytes. Methods Data from the Vitamin D Effects on Osteoarthritis (VIDEO) study were analyzed as a cohort. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was used to assess knee symptoms at baseline and follow-up. Osteophytes, cartilage defects, and cartilage volumes were measured using magnetic resonance imaging at baseline. Associations between cartilage morphology and changes in knee symptoms were assessed using linear regression models, and mediation analysis was used to test whether these associations were mediated by osteophytes. Results A total of 334 participants (aged 50 to 79 years) with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis were included in the analysis. Cartilage defects were significantly associated with change in total knee pain, change in weight-bearing pain, and change in non-weight-bearing pain after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and intervention. Cartilage volume was significantly associated with change in weight-bearing pain and change in physical dysfunction after adjustment. Lateral tibiofemoral and patellar osteophyte mediated the associations of cartilage defects with change in total knee pain (49–55%) and change in weight-bearing pain (61–62%) and the association of cartilage volume with change in weight-bearing pain (27–30%) and dysfunction (24–25%). Both cartilage defects and cartilage volume had no direct effects on change in knee symptoms. Conclusions The significant associations between cartilage morphology and changes in knee symptoms were indirect and were partly mediated by osteophytes.

Deep learning based detection of osteophytes in radiographs and magnetic resonance imagings of the knee using 2D and 3D morphology

“…Our experiments demonstrated also that inclusion of menisci led to a greater performance improvement than inclusion of cartilage. A study of Fan et al 4 similarly suggested that medial meniscal extrusion has a stronger association with OST formation than cartilage, at least, in symptomatic knees. Moreover, Hada et al 29 observed a strong association between medial meniscal extrusion and TM OST for early‐OA patients, measured from MRI‐based T2 maps (More detailed analysis of the correlation between meniscal damages and TM OST can be found in Supp.…”

“…OSTs are strongly associated with the presence of knee pain and often with other symptoms 4–6 . For instance, presence of femoral OSTs, particularly, in the lateral compartment, was found to be significantly associated with increased pain 7 .…”

“…Our experiments demonstrated also that inclusion of menisci led to a greater performance improvement than inclusion of cartilage. A study of Fan et al4 similarly suggested that medial meniscal extrusion has a stronger association with OST formation than cartilage, at least, in symptomatic knees. Moreover, Hada et al29…”

CC-Chemokine Receptor-2 Expression in Osteoblasts Contributes to Cartilage and Bone Damage during Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis

“…OA is considered a disease of the whole joint, affecting not only the articular cartilage but extending to the bone tissue and synovium. Bone damage in PTOA, such as the thickening of the area below the calcified cartilage (subchondral bone and trabecular bone) and osteophyte formation, can appear early during disease progression, and such structural changes can contribute to OA pain and disability [ 6 , 9 , 29 , 30 ]. Therefore, in the effort to find therapeutic intervention to limit OA progression, bone tissue constitutes an important target.…”

Results of Surgical Correction of Fixed Flexion Deformity during Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patient of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Comprehensive Review

“…As a protective mechanism, the body responds by producing osteophytes, which are bony outgrowths, in an attempt to stabilize the joint. These structural changes contribute to the development of FFD by altering the joint mechanics and placing abnormal stresses on the surrounding soft tissues [7] . The clinical implications of FFD in knee OA are significant.…”