Unilateral-dominant reduction in muscle volume in female knee osteoarthritis patients: computed tomography-based analysis of bilateral sides

Abstract

Background Muscle weakness is associated with osteoarthritis pathology. A recent study demonstrated that measuring muscle volume using computed tomography (CT)-based analysis and comparing bilateral muscles in the same patient allowed for accurate evaluation of muscle volume in unilateral hip osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Here, we evaluated muscle volume using CT-based analysis and compared bilateral muscles in knee OA (KOA) patients. Methods CT images were obtained from 35 female radiographic KOA patients the day prior to total knee replacement surgery. Muscle volume (MV) was semi-automatically analyzed. Knee extension muscle strength (MS) was determined using a hand-held dynamometer. The severity of KOA patients’ clinical symptoms was examined using four domains of the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. We compared the difference in MS (ΔMS) and MV (ΔMV) between the operated side (OS), which exhibited severe radiographic OA or severe pain, and the contralateral side (CS). Results JOA score was significantly lower in the OS than CS. MV and MS were also significantly lower in the OS than CS. There was no correlation between MV and MS or between MV and MS as a percentage of body weight on either side. However, ΔMV was positively correlated with ΔMS and pain on walking in the JOA. Conclusions We evaluated MV and MS using bilateral CT images of the legs of KOA patients. A reduction in MV was observed on the OS, and was correlated with a reduction in MS and pain on walking. Bilateral CT image analysis may be useful for evaluating the relationship between OA pathology and muscle atrophy.

Muscle Atrophy and Knee Osteoarthritis Joint Status: Highlights and their Implications [2017-2023]

“…At the same time, it can be predicted that exercising in the face of pain or joint swelling, or failing to exercise entirely, can be expected to set the stage for muscle atrophy [37,38], as well as a decline in muscle strength and volume loss [39,40] and multiple functional aberrations that worsen over time.…”

Comparison of the asymmetries in muscle mass, biomechanical property and muscle activation asymmetry of quadriceps femoris between patients with unilateral and bilateral knee osteoarthritis

“…In BG, only the difference in the thickness of the VM between the two lower limbs was not significant, but the thickness of RF, VM, and VL was higher in RML. There was a significant reduction of QF thickness in RSL relative to RML, which may be related to more severe long-term pain, functional limitation, and load reduction ( Tsukada et al, 2020 ). Several previous studies in human have suggested unilateral mechanical loading as a possible cause of muscle atrophy.…”

Comparison between pain intensity, functionality, central sensitization, and self-efficacy in individuals with unilateral or bilateral knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study

“…Asymmetry between the lower limbs seems to be more prevalent in individuals with B-KO 5 , while the reduction in muscle strength and volume of the affected limb is more observed in individuals with U-KO 6 , and both (B-KO and U-KO) have already been associated with primary and secondary hyperalgesia 7 . However, these clinical differences have been less investigated.…”