Statin use and longitudinal changes in quantitative MRI-based biomarkers of thigh muscle quality: data from Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether changes in MRI-based measures of thigh muscle quality associated with statin use in participants with and without/at-risk of knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative study. Statin users and non-users were matched for relevant covariates using 1:1 propensity-score matching. Participants were further stratified according to baseline radiographic knee osteoarthritis status. We used a validated deep-learning method for thigh muscle MRI segmentation and calculation of muscle quality biomarkers at baseline, 2nd, and 4th visits. Mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in longitudinal 4-year measurements of muscle quality biomarkers, including cross-sectional area, intramuscular adipose tissue, contractile percent, and knee extensors and flexors maximum and specific contractile force (force/muscle area) were the outcomes of interest. RESULTS: After matching, 3772 thighs of 1910 participants were included (1886 thighs of statin-users: 1886 of non-users; age: 62 ± 9 years (average ± standard deviation), range: 45-79; female/male: 1). During 4 years, statin use was associated with a slight decrease in muscle quality, indicated by decreased knee extension maximum (mean-difference, 95% CI: - 1.85 N/year, - 3.23 to - 0.47) and specific contractile force (- 0.04 N/cm2/year, - 0.07 to - 0.01), decreased thigh muscle contractile percent (- 0.03%/year, - 0.06 to - 0.01), and increased thigh intramuscular adipose tissue (3.06 mm2/year, 0.53 to 5.59). Stratified analyses showed decreased muscle quality only in participants without/at-risk of knee osteoarthritis but not those with established knee osteoarthritis. CONCLUSIONS: Statin use is associated with a slight decrease in MRI-based measures of thigh muscle quality over 4 years. However, considering statins' substantial cardiovascular benefits, these slight muscle changes may be relatively less important in overall patient care.

Higher return to sport and lower revision rates when performing arthroscopic Bankart repair with remplissage for anterior shoulder instability with a Hill-Sachs lesion: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent anterior shoulder instability remains the most common complication from a prior shoulder dislocation, especially among young and active individuals who engage in athletic activities. This instability can lead to repeated subluxation or dislocations of the humeral head from the glenoid fossa. The purpose of this study is to compare postoperative recurrence rates, instability-related revision and return to sport (RTS) rates between isolated arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) and ABR with remplissage (ABR + R) for anterior shoulder instability with subcritical glenoid bone loss (GBL) and a Hill-Sachs lesion (HSL). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched on June 2022. Studies sought were those comparing postoperative outcomes of ABR + R versus isolated ABR for subcritical GBL and an HSL. Study quality was evaluated using the revised Cochrane tool. Redislocations, instability-related revisions, and RTS rates were extracted and pooled estimates were calculated using the random-effect model. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included with a mean follow-up of 48.2 months for isolated ABR and 43.2 months for ABR + R. The meta-analytic comparison demonstrated that ABR + R resulted in statistically significant improvement in Rowe and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores by 6.5 and 2.2 points, respectively; however, the improvements in patient-reported outcomes were not clinically meaningful. ABR + R resulted in reduced external rotation at the side by 1° which was not clinically meaningful and there was no significant difference in terms of forward elevation. ABR + R resulted in a statistically significant reduction of overall postoperative recurrences (odds ratio [OR]: 9.36), postoperative dislocations (OR: 6.28), instability-related revision (OR: 3.46), and RTS to any level (OR: 2.85). CONCLUSION: The addition of remplissage to ABR for recurrent anterior shoulder instability with subcritical GBL and HSL results in significantly lower postoperative instability recurrence, lower instability-related revisions, and higher RTS to any level.

Meniscus root tears: state of the art.

BACKGROUND: Meniscus root tears represent significant pathology that, historically, has been underdiagnosed and undertreated. However, the recognition of their clinical and functional significance has recently surged, mainly due to their frequent association with anterior cruciate ligament injuries. AIM: This comprehensive review discusses various aspects of meniscal root tears, including their epidemiology, biomechanics, etiology, clinical and radiological findings, classification, management and surgical techniques.

Incidence of heterotopic ossification following total hip arthroplasty by approach: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Heterotopic ossification (HO) formation has been increasingly recognized as a complication of major orthopedic surgeries, particularly total hip arthroplasty (THA). Though, the overall incidence of HO following THA has been well-documented, it is often not reported by severity or by surgical approach. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What are the demographics of patients with HO? (2) What is the severity of HO following THA using the Brooker classification? (3) What is the incidence and class of HO following different THA approaches (anterior, posterior, posterolateral, anterolateral, superior, lateral, trans-gluteal)? (4) What are the number and training level of surgeons who performed each procedure? METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were queried, and PRISMA guidelines were followed. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: We isolated 26 studies evaluating 6512 total hip arthroplasties (THA). The mean HO percentage overall was 28.8%, mostly Class I (54.2%) or Class II (29.6%). The highest percentage of HO was associated with the modified direct lateral (57.2%) and the traditional lateral (34.6%) approaches. The lowest HO percentages were identified following posterolateral (12.8%) and direct superior approaches (1%). Most studies reported a singular senior surgeon operating within the same approach for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The traditional lateral and modified direct lateral approaches to THA resulted in the highest percentage of HO postoperatively. However, most ossification cases were not clinically significant and did not strongly affect overall patient morbidity. Further studies are warranted to identify an association between severity of ossification and different arthroplasty approaches.

Diabetes-associated thigh muscle degeneration mediates knee osteoarthritis-related outcomes: results from a longitudinal cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and longitudinal MRI biomarkers for thigh muscle degeneration in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and their mediatory role in worsening KOA-related symptoms. METHODS: The Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants with radiographic KOA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥ 2) were included. Thighs and corresponding knees of KOA patients with versus without self-reported DM were matched for potential confounders using propensity score (PS) matching. We developed and used a validated deep learning method for longitudinal thigh segmentation. We assessed the association of DM with 4-year longitudinal muscle degeneration in biomarkers of muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and contractile percentage (non-fat CSA/total CSA). We further investigated whether DM is associated with 9-year risk of KOA radiographic progression, knee replacement (KR), and symptoms worsening. Finally, we evaluated whether the DM-KOA worsening association is mediated through preceding muscle degeneration. RESULTS: After PS matching, 698 thighs/knees were included (185:513 with:without DM; average ± SD age:64 ± 8-years; female/male:1.4). Baseline DM was associated with a decreased contractile percent of total thigh muscles and quadriceps (mean difference, 95%CI -0.16%/year, -0.25 to -0.07, and -0.21%/year, -0.33 to -0.08). DM was also associated with an increased risk of worsening KOA-related symptoms (hazard ratio, 95%CI 1.70, 1.18-2.46) but not radiographic progression or KR. The decrease in quadriceps contractile percent partially mediated the increased risk of symptoms worsening in patients with DM. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline DM is associated with thigh muscle degeneration and KOA-related symptoms worsening. As a potentially modifiable risk factor, DM-associated longitudinal thigh muscle degeneration may partially mediate the symptoms worsening in patients with DM and coexisting KOA. KEY POINTS: • Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with worsening knee osteoarthritis (KOA)-related symptoms. • As a potentially modifiable factor, DM-associated thigh muscle (quadriceps) degeneration partially mediates the worsening of KOA-related symptoms.

Medical services at the FIFA world cup Qatar 2022.

OBJECTIVE: The Football World Cup is among the biggest sporting events in the world, but data to inform the requirements of medical care for such tournaments are limited. This study describes the athlete and team medical services at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 . METHODS: Three different medical service entities were identified through a needs analysis based on expert advice, team physician interviews and questionnaires prior to the event: 'Team Services' to provide any workforce or equipment needs of the teams, a 'Polyclinic' to manage any acute medical demands, and a 'recovery centre' to improve game readiness throughout the tournament. All services had been set up prior to the tournament and thoroughly tested. RESULTS: Of a total of 832 athletes, ~1300 team delegation and ~130 match officials, 167 individuals including 129 (77%) athletes and 38 (23%) non-athletes were assessed in the polyclinic. For the 129 athletes (median 4 players per team), medical imaging was the most requested service, which peaked during the group phase of the tournament. Most requests were received during normal working hours despite many games finishing late at night. 30 of the 32 participating teams solicited medical services for their players at least once. Three teams made use of the recovery facilities, and 17 teams requested additional medical equipment or clinical assistance. CONCLUSION: Central imaging services was the most used medical resource at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and over half of teams required additional medical equipment or personnel. These data may inform planning of medical services for similar events in the future.

Higher sensitivity and accuracy of synovial next-generation sequencing in comparison to culture in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the diagnostic parameters of synovial next-generation sequencing (NGS) and cultures in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched from inception until 8 Jan 2022 for literature investigating the role of NGS in comparison to culture in the diagnosis of PJI. The studies were included if they investigated the diagnostic value of culture and NGS in diagnosing PJIs against the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria. Diagnostic parameters, such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive-likelihood ratio, negative-likelihood ratio, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC), were calculated for the included studies to evaluate the performance of NGS in comparison to culture in PJI diagnosis. RESULTS: The total number of the included patients was 341 from seven articles. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of NGS were 94% (95% CI 91-97%), 89% (95% CI 82-95%), and 138.5 (95% CI 49.1-390.5), respectively. NGS has positive- and negative-likelihood ratios of 7.9 (95% CI 3.99-15.6) and 0.1 (95% CI 0.0-0.1), respectively. On the other hand, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of culture were 70% (95% CI 61-79%), 94% (95% CI 88-98%), and 28.0 (95% CI 12.6-62.2), respectively. The SROC curve for NGS showed that the accuracy (AUC) was 91.9%, and that the positive and negative predictive values were 8.6 (95% CI 5.0-19.5) and 0.1 (95% CI 0.0-0.1), respectively. While, culture SROC curve demonstrated that the accuracy (AUC) was 80.5% and the positive- and negative-likelihood ratio were 12.1 (95% CI 4.5-49.6) and 0.3 (95% CI 0.2-0.4). CONCLUSIONS: NGS has a potential role in diagnosing hip and knee PJIs due to its high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. However, the sensitivity and specificity reported by the studies varied according to the time of synovial sampling (preoperative, postoperative, or mixed).

Patient-oriented educational Sports Medicine YouTube videos in Arabic have higher view counts in the Middle East and North Africa than their English versions.

PURPOSE: The present study aims to assess the impact of the local language on the view count of patient-oriented educational Sports Medicine videos in an Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in the Middle East and North Africa. METHODS: An observational study on English and Arabic versions of Aspetar's YouTube channel patient-oriented educational video series was conducted in February 2023, comparing the view count and viewer characteristics. Included videos were posted either simultaneously or in English version first, in both languages, and shared on the same media platforms. Collected data of interest included video title, view count in each language, age and sex of the viewers, location, and traffic source. RESULTS: Eleven videos of the patient-oriented educational video series were included in the present study. Except for one, the view count was significantly higher in the Arabic version of all 11 videos (minimum sevenfold, P = 0.03). Viewers were predominantly males (73.9%) and between 18 and 44 years old (81.1%). Eleven out of 19 countries of the Middle East and North Africa region [11] were among the viewers' top 20 countries. Traffic sources included YouTube search (45.9%), YouTube suggested videos (17%), external sources (14.4%), YouTube browse features (8.5%), and YouTube advertising (6%). CONCLUSION: Patient-oriented educational Sports Medicine videos in Arabic yield higher view counts than their English version in young adult viewers from 11 countries in the Middle East and Africa among the top 20. Content creation on languages with limited online representation could effectively reach the targeted population by breaking language barriers.

Short-term outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with or without lateral tenodesis or anterolateral ligament reconstruction: a retrospective cohort.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) alone, ACLR with lateral tenodesis, and ACL and ALL reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of prospectively collected data on all ACL procedures was performed at Aspetar Specialized Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital between January 2020 and January 2021. Patients were treated with ACLR alone, ACLR with lateral tenodesis, or ACLR with ALL reconstruction. The primary outcome was the subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (sIKDC) score. The secondary outcomes were the ACL Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scores, pivot shift grade, subjective knee stability, and subjective pain on activity. RESULTS: A total of 100 cases were included. The most common technique was ACLR with lateral tenodesis (42%), followed by ACLR alone (38%) and ACL with ALL reconstruction (20%). The mean age was 28.15 years (15-60), and 94% of the patients were males. Meniscal procedures were more frequent in the ACLR alone group (65.8%). There was no association between subjective stability, sIKDC, ACL-RSI, and pivot shift grade and the three ACLR techniques while adjusting for age, sex, and concomitant meniscus procedures at six weeks, 12 weeks, six months, and nine months. However, there was a significant decrease in postoperative flexion in the ACL and ALL reconstruction group by a mean of 22° (95% CI - 40.7 - 3.4; P = 0.02) at 6 weeks compared to ACLR alone, which was not evident on later follow-ups. CONCLUSION: ACLR with/without lateral augmentation procedures yields similar subjective IKDC, ACL-RSI, pivot shift grade, and subjective knee instability at short-term follow-up. Therefore, lateral extra-articular augmentation procedures are safe to be performed.

Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow: an up-to-date review of management.

Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is an overuse tendinopathy of the common extensor origin of the elbow in patients involved in repetitive movement of the wrist and forearm. Lateral epicondylitis is a self-limiting condition, with operative management only recommended in severe, recalcitrant cases. This article reviews the recent updates on operative and non-operative management of lateral epicondylitis.

All-polyethylene versus metal-backed tibial components in total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: The design of tibial trays for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been a topic of research for several decades. Although all-polyethylene trays were developed to address issues such as osteolysis and to enhance the longevity of the prosthesis, as well as knee range of motion, metal-backed designs have remained the most commonly used type of prosthesis. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical, radiological, and survival outcomes of both designs. METHODS: Five databases were searched from inception until October 1, 2020, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the outcomes of all-polyethylene and metal-backed tibial components in TKA. The outcomes of interest included range of motion, knee society score, stairs climbing scores, radiostereographic analysis, survivorship and complication. This review was conducted in line with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool. RESULTS: A total of 14 RCTs with 1367 TKA were included with a mean age of - years and - years for all-polyethylene and metal-backed tibial components groups, respectively. All-polyethylene group demonstrated statistically significant differences in five-year survivorship (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.10-0.75; p value 0.01) and stairs climbing score (OR - 2.07; 95% CI - 3.27-0.87; p value 0.0007) when compared to the metal-backed group. The metal-backed design was significantly more radiographically stable in anterior-posterior, varus-valgus, and internal-external rotations at the 2-year follow-up compared to all-polyethylene tibias (OR - 0.09; 95% CI - 0.16 to - 0.02; p value 0.02) as per the pooled radiostereographic analysis. However, ten-year survivorship (OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.53-1.60; p value 0.78), range of motion (OR - 0.57; 95% CI - 2.00-0.85, p value 0.43), knee society scores (OR 1.38; 95% CI - 0.47-3.23, p value 0.14), and complications (OR 0.83; 95% CI 0.5-1.39, p value 0.48) were comparable between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: While this meta-analysis suggests that all-polyethylene tibial components in total knee arthroplasty may offer advantages over metal-backed components in terms of five-year survivorship, and stairs climbing score, this finding should be considered in the context of potential confounding factors. Nonetheless, based on the results, the all-polyethylene implant should be considered a viable choice for primary knee replacement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.

Role of Thigh Muscle Changes in Knee Osteoarthritis Outcomes: Osteoarthritis Initiative Data.

Background Longitudinal data on the association of quantitative thigh muscle MRI markers with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) outcomes are scarce. These associations are of clinical importance, with potential use for thigh muscle-directed disease-modifying interventions. Purpose To measure KOA-associated longitudinal changes in MRI-derived muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and adipose tissue and their association with downstream symptom worsening and knee replacement (KR). Materials and Methods In a secondary analysis of the Osteoarthritis Initiative multicenter prospective cohort (February 2004 through October 2015), knees of participants with available good-quality thigh MRI scans at baseline and at least one follow-up visit were included and classified as with and without KOA according to baseline radiographic Kellgren-Lawrence grade of 2 or higher and matched for confounders with use of propensity score matching. An automated deep learning model for thigh MRI two-dimensional segmentation was developed and tested. Markers of muscle CSA and intramuscular adipose tissue (intra-MAT) were measured at baseline and 2nd- and 4th-year follow-up (period 1) and compared between knees with and without KOA by using linear mixed-effect regression models. Furthermore, in knees with KOA, the association of period 1 changes in muscle markers with risk of KR (Cox proportional hazards) and symptom worsening (mixed-effect models) during the 4th to 9th year (period 2) was evaluated. Results This study included 4634 matched thighs (2317 with and 2317 without KOA) of 2344 participants (mean age, 62 years ± 9 [SD]; 1292 women). Compared with those without, knees with KOA had a decrease in quadriceps CSA (mean difference, -8.21 mm2/year; P = .004) and an increase in quadriceps intra-MAT (1.98 mm2/year; P = .007). Decreased CSA and increased intra-MAT of quadriceps during period 1 was predictive of downstream (period 2) KOA symptom worsening (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index total score: odds ratio, 0.24 [negative association] [P < .001] and 1.38 [P = .012], respectively). Quadriceps CSA changes were negatively associated with higher future KR risk (hazard ratio, 0.70; P < .001). Conclusion Knee osteoarthritis was associated with longitudinal MRI-derived decreased quadriceps cross-sectional area and increased intramuscular adipose tissue. These potentially modifiable risk factors were predictive of downstream symptom worsening and knee replacement. Clinical trial registration no. NCT00080171 © RSNA, 2022 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Conventional MRI-derived subchondral trabecular biomarkers and their association with knee cartilage volume loss as early as 1 year: a longitudinal analysis from Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To study associations between MRI-derived subchondral trabecular biomarkers obtained from conventional MRI sequences and knee cartilage loss over 12 and 24 months, using the FNIH osteoarthritis (OA) biomarkers consortium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of the 600 subjects in the FNIH OA biomarkers consortium (a nested case-control study within Osteoarthritis Initiative [OAI]) were extracted from the online database. Baseline knee MRI (intermediate-weighted (IW) sequences) were evaluated to determine conventional MRI-derived trabecular thickness (cTbTh) and bone-to-total ratio (cBV/TV). The measurements for medial and lateral volumes of cartilages using baseline, 12-, and 24-month knee MRI were extracted from the OAI database, and cartilage volume loss over 12 and 24 months of follow-up were determined using Relative Change Index. The association between conventional MRI-based subchondral trabecular biomarkers and cartilage volume loss were studied using logistic regression models, adjusted for relevant confounders including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), vitamin D use, Kellgren Lawrence grade (KLG), and tibiofemoral alignment. RESULTS: Higher medial cTbTh and cBV/TV at baseline were associated with increased odds of medial tibial cartilage volume loss over 12 months (ORs: 1.01 [1.00-1.02] and 1.24 [1.10-1.39] per 1-SD change) and 24 months (ORs: 1.01 [1.00-1.02] and 1.22 [1.08-1.37], per 1-SD change). No significant association was observed between medial subchondral trabecular biomarkers and lateral tibial or femoral (medial or lateral) cartilage volume loss over the first and second follow-up years. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional MRI-derived subchondral trabecular biomarkers (higher medial cTbTh and cBV/TV) may be associated with increased medial tibial cartilage volume loss as early as 1 year.

Return to Sports Following Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Is Possible but Remains Questionable: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the return to sports rate and time following meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT). METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched in December 2020. Eligibility criteria included clinical studies reporting the return to sport rate following MAT with ≥12-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 14 case series were included with 670 patients. The bone bridge technique was used for all transplantations in 5 studies, and suture fixations with bone tunnels were used for all transplantations in 5 studies. In 2 studies, bone plugs were used for medial menisci and bone bridge for lateral menisci. In 1 study, suture fixation was used for medial menisci, and bone bridge for lateral menisci. The return to sports rate ranged from 20% to 91.7%, with 2 studies reporting low return to sport rates. The return to sport time ranged between 7.6 and 16.9 months. The return to preinjury level had a rate of 7% to 100%. Return to a higher level of sports was reported in only 2 studies (28.5% to 86%). Return to a lower level of sports was reported in low proportions in most studies. In terms of patient-reported outcomes, the Lysholm knee and subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores and Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) had significant improvements after MAT. The KOOS quality of life subscore did not change significantly in 1 study. The total reoperation rate after MAT ranged between 3.1% and 80%, whereas the total failure ranged between 1.1% and 30.1%. CONCLUSION: Despite that most studies reporting high return to sports rates, the current level of evidence is low, with all studies being case series. There is significant variability in the reported return to sports rate, time, and level. Therefore, high-quality comparative studies are mandated to elucidate whether MAT is associated with higher return to sports rates and levels. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, systematic review.

Synovial fluid calprotectin in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection: A meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most debilitating complications following joint replacement surgery. Synovial biomarkers, such as Calprotectin, have become valuable in the diagnosis of PJI. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the role of synovial Calprotectin as a diagnostic test in PJI. METHODS: This meta-analysis was conducted with adherence to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched until February 2022. Inclusion criteria were as follows: all studies in which the patients with joint replacements were evaluated for PJI; synovial Calprotectin was the biomarker of choice to diagnose PJI; standardized guidelines were used as the gold standard for the diagnosis; and a comparison between the guidelines and Calprotectin results was made. Diagnostic parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated for the included studies to evaluate synovial Calprotectin for PJI diagnosis. RESULTS: The total number of the included patients was 618 from eight studies. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of Calprotectin test were 92% (95%CI: 84%-98%), 93% (95%CI: 84%-99%), and 187.61 (95%CI: 20.21-1741.18), respectively. The results showed that the negative and positive likelihood ratios of the Calprotectin test were 0.07 (95%CI: 0.02-0.22) and 9.91 (95%CI: 4.11-23.93), respectively. The SROC showed that the area under the curve for Calprotectin test was 0.935. CONCLUSION: Synovial Calprotectin is a valuable biomarker as it provides a reliable and rapid diagnosis of PJI. It has the potential to be used in clinical practice due to its high sensitivity and specificity that are comparable to the other utilized biomarkers. Another advantage is its low cost relative to other biomarkers.

Kneeling as a risk factor of patellofemoral joint cartilage damage worsening: an exploratory analysis on the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether kneeling activity is associated with the MRI measures of patellofemoral (PF) joint cartilage damage worsening in subjects with/without patella alta (PA). METHODS: Baseline and 24-month 3-T MR images and semi-quantitative MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score (MOAKS) of PF joint of 600 subjects from the FNIH study, a nested study within the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI), were extracted. At baseline visit, subjects were asked how many days per week they participated in kneeling activities lasted ≥ 30 min. Insall-Salvati ratio (ISR) (patellar tendon/patellar height) was measured on baseline MRIs by a musculoskeletal radiologist; ISR ≥ 1.3 was considered PA. Regression analysis adjusted for confounding variables was used to assess the impact of kneeling on worsening of MOAKS cartilage over 24 months. The potential moderating effect of PA was evaluated using adjusted regression analysis. RESULTS: Six hundred subjects (58.8% female, years, BMI = 30.7 ± 4.8 kg/m2) were included; 13.7%, 6.2%, and 5.5% of participants reported 1 day, 2-5 days, and ≥ 6 days of kneeling activities per week. A higher frequency of kneeling activity was associated with the increased risk of MOAKS cartilage score worsening (adjusted OR (95% CI): 2.33 (1.08-5.06)). Stratification analysis showed that only ≥ 6 days/week of kneeling activities was associated with the worsening of MOAKS cartilage scores (2.74 (1.03-7.27)). When we included the presence of PA in regression models, the OR (95% CI) for the association between kneeling and PF cartilage damage will decrease to 1.26 (0.78-2.04), suggesting the potential role of PA as the moderator variable. CONCLUSION: Extensive kneeling activity (≥ 6 days/week) may be associated with the MRI-based worsening of PF cartilage damage, specifically in subjects with an underlying patella alta. KEY POINTS: • Frequent daily kneeling activity is associated with a higher risk of patellofemoral cartilage damage resulting in patellofemoral osteoarthritis. • The cartilage damage associated with extensive kneeling activity may be worse in subjects with an underlying patella alta (i.e., high-riding patella).

Association between Patellofemoral and medial Tibiofemoral compartment osteoarthritis progression: exploring the effect of body weight using longitudinal data from osteoarthritis initiative (OAI).

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations of medial and lateral patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PF-OA) at baseline with symptomatic and radiographic OA outcomes in the medial tibiofemoral compartment (MTFC) over 4 years, according to baseline overweight status. METHODS: Data and MRI images of 600 subjects in the FNIH-OA biomarkers consortium were used. Symptomatic worsening and radiographic progression of MTFC-OA were defined using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores and MTFC joint space narrowing (JSN) from baseline to 4-year follow-up. Baseline MRIs were read to establish PF-OA diagnosis. The association between baseline regional PF-OA pattern and odds for MTFC-OA progression was evaluated using regression models (adjusted for relevant confounding covariates including body mass index (BMI), age, sex, PF alignment measurements, KL grade, and knee alignment). To evaluate the effect modifying role for overweight status, stratification analysis was performed (BMI ≥ 25 vs. < 25 kg/m2). RESULTS: At baseline, 340 (56.7%), 255 (42.5%), and 199 (33.2%) subjects had OA in the medial, lateral, and both PF compartments. Baseline medial PF-OA was associated with WOMAC pain score and MTFC JSN progression at 4 years (Adjusted OR:1.56[95%CI:1.09-2.23] and 1.59[1.11-2.28], respectively) but not lateral PF-OA. In stratification analysis, overweight status was found to be an effect modifier for medial PF-OA and WOMAC pain (OR in overweight vs. non-overweight subjects:1.65[1.13-2.42] vs. 0.50[0.12-1.82]) as well as MTFC-JSN progression (1.63[1.12-2.4] vs. 0.75[0.19-2.81]). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the known confounding effect of BMI for PF-OA and MTFC-OA, the overweight status may also play an effect modifier role in the association between baseline medial PF-OA and MTFC-OA progression, which is amenable to secondary prevention.

Patellofemoral morphology measurements and their associations with tibiofemoral osteoarthritis-related structural damage: exploratory analysis on the osteoarthritis initiative.

OBJECTIVES: Given the coexistence and possible interactions between patellofemoral and tibiofemoral compartments, roles of patellofemoral morphology measurements in tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (OA) have not been investigated extensively. We aimed to determine whether patellofemoral morphology is associated with the presence and longitudinal worsening of tibiofemoral OA in participants of the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). METHODS: Baseline knee MRIs of 600 participants were read by two independent blinded observers in consensus to determine patellofemoral morphology measurements including tibial tuberosity to trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance, trochlear groove depth (TGD), lateral patellar tilt (LPT), and Insall-Salvati ratio (ISR). Radiographic and MRI OA knee scoring (MOAKS) measurements were extracted from baseline and 2-year follow-up readings. Associations between baseline patellofemoral morphology metrics with radiographic medial tibiofemoral compartment (MTFC) joint space loss (> 0.7 mm, between baseline and 2nd-4th-year readings), and MRI-derived cartilage damage, bone marrow lesions (BMLs), and osteophytes (baseline to 2 years), were investigated using regression models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and knee alignment. P values were corrected using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. RESULTS: Patellofemoral morphology measurements were not associated with longitudinal joint space loss in the MTFC or MOAKS determinants. Only TT-TG distance was associated with the baseline number of subregions with cartilage defects (OR (95% CI), 1.09 (1.04-1.14), corrected p value ≤ 0.01), BMLs (OR (95% CI), 1.1 (1.04-1.17), corrected p value = 0.01), and osteophytes (OR (95% CI), 1.09 (1.05-1.14), corrected p value ≤ 0.01) in the lateral tibiofemoral compartment (LTFC), and worsening of LTFC cartilage defects over 2 years (OR (95% CI), 1.09 (1.03-1.16), corrected p value = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Higher TT-TG distance was associated with concurrent MRI-derived OA-related structural damages and 2-year follow-up worsening only in LTFC. No associations were detected between patellofemoral morphology measurements and MTFC OA progression. KEY POINTS: • Of all patellofemoral morphology measurements, the only lateralization of the tibial tubercle may be considered as a risk factor for lateral (not medial) tibiofemoral osteoarthritis worsening. • Patellofemoral morphology measurements of patella alta, trochlear dysplasia, patellar tilt, and lateralization of the tibial tubercle are not associated with radiographic and MRI-based medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis worsening over 2 years. • Using longitudinal MRI data, each millimeter increase of TT-TG distance is associated with a 9% (95% confidence interval, 3-16%) increase in odds of longitudinal cartilage defects in the lateral tibiofemoral (but not medial) compartment over 2 years.

Association of Mucoid Degeneration of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament at MR Imaging with Medial Tibiofemoral Osteoarthritis Progression at Radiography: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Purpose To determine whether anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) mucoid degeneration in participants with or at risk for osteoarthritis is associated with longitudinal risk of radiographic progression of medial tibiofemoral compartment joint space loss (JSL). Materials and Methods Baseline demographic, clinical, radiographic, and Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging Osteoarthritis Knee Score (MOAKS) data were evaluated in 600 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative database. Two blinded musculoskeletal radiologists independently evaluated baseline MR images for ACL mucoid degeneration. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the association between ACL mucoid degeneration at MR imaging and JSL progression at radiography, defined as a minimum joint space width decrease greater than 0.7 mm (48 months; cutoff according to mean and standard deviation of 1-year minimum joint space width changes in 90 knees of reference group). Stratified analysis was performed based on baseline cartilage surface damage. Results Knees with ACL mucoid degeneration showed a greater proportion of JSL progression compared with knees with a normal ACL (64% vs 47%; P = .004). After adjustment for all demographic, clinical, radiographic, and MOAKS variables, ACL mucoid degeneration was not statistically significantly associated with JSL progression in the entire cohort (adjusted odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval: 1.00, 2.77; P = .051). In subgroup analysis, ACL mucoid degeneration was statistically significantly associated with JSL progression in participants with less baseline cartilage surface damage (maximum cartilage surface loss of ≤75% in all subregions [P = .015] and ≤4 of involved subregions with cartilage surface loss [P = .028]). Conclusion ACL mucoid degeneration in participants with or at risk for osteoarthritis is associated with progression of medial tibiofemoral compartment JSL in knees with less baseline cartilage surface area damage. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Superolateral Hoffa's fat pad (SHFP) oedema and patellar cartilage volume loss: quantitative analysis using longitudinal data from the Foundation for the National Institute of Health (FNIH) Osteoarthritis Biomarkers Consortium.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of superolateral Hoffa's fat pad (SHFP) oedema and patellofemoral joint structural damage in participants of Foundation for the National Institute of Health Osteoarthritis Biomarkers Consortium study. METHODS: Baseline and 24-month MRIs of 600 subjects were assessed. The presence of SHFP oedema (using 0-3 grading scale) and patellar morphology metrics were determined using baseline MRI. Quantitative patellar cartilage volume and semi-quantitative MRI osteoarthritis knee score (MOAKS) variables were extracted. The associations between SHFP oedema and patellar cartilage damage, bone marrow lesion (BML), osteophyte and morphology were evaluated in cross-sectional model. In longitudinal analysis, the associations between oedema and cartilage volume loss (defined using reliable change index) and MOAKS worsening were evaluated. RESULTS: In cross-sectional evaluations, the presence of SHFP oedema was associated with simultaneous lateral patellar cartilage/BML defects and inferior-medial patellar osteophyte size. A significant positive correlation between the degree of patella alta and SHFP oedema was detected (r = 0.259, p < 0.001). The presence of oedema was associated with 24-month cartilage volume loss (odds ratio (OR) 2.11, 95% confidence interval 1.46-3.06) and medial patellar BML size (OR 1.92 (1.15-3.21)) and number (OR 2.50 (1.29-4.88)) worsening. The optimal cut-off value for the grade of baseline SHFP oedema regarding both presence and worsening of patellar structural damage was ≥ 1 (presence of any SHFP hyperintensity). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of SHFP oedema could be considered as a predictor of future patellar cartilage loss and BML worsening, and an indicator of simultaneous cartilage, BML and osteophyte defects. KEY POINTS: • SHFP oedema was associated with simultaneous lateral patellar OA-related structural damage. • SHFP oedema was associated with longitudinal patellar cartilage loss over 24 months. • SHFP oedema could be considered as indicator and predictor of patellar OA.