Artificial intelligence for detection of effusion and lipo-hemarthrosis in X-rays and CT of the knee.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic knee injuries are challenging to diagnose accurately through radiography and to a lesser extent, through CT, with fractures sometimes overlooked. Ancillary signs like joint effusion or lipo-hemarthrosis are indicative of fractures, suggesting the need for further imaging. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can automate image analysis, improving diagnostic accuracy and help prioritizing clinically important X-ray or CT studies. OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate an AI algorithm for detecting effusion of any kind in knee X-rays and selected CT images and distinguishing between simple effusion and lipo-hemarthrosis indicative of intra-articular fractures. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed post traumatic knee imaging from January 2016 to February 2023, categorizing images into lipo-hemarthrosis, simple effusion, or normal. It utilized the FishNet-150 algorithm for image classification, with class activation maps highlighting decision-influential regions. The AI's diagnostic accuracy was validated against a gold standard, based on the evaluations made by a radiologist with at least four years of experience. RESULTS: Analysis included CT images from 515 patients and X-rays from 637 post traumatic patients, identifying lipo-hemarthrosis, simple effusion, and normal findings. The AI showed an AUC of 0.81 for detecting any effusion, 0.78 for simple effusion, and 0.83 for lipo-hemarthrosis in X-rays; and 0.89, 0.89, and 0.91, respectively, in CTs. CONCLUSION: The AI algorithm effectively detects knee effusion and differentiates between simple effusion and lipo-hemarthrosis in post-traumatic patients for both X-rays and selected CT images further studies are needed to validate these results.

Non-compressive sleeves versus compression stockings after total knee arthroplasty: A prospective pilot study.

Background: Compression stockings are routinely prescribed after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Non-compressive sleeves embedded with semiconductor elements (Incrediwear) are designed to enhance blood flow. The objective of this investigation is to compare compression stockings and Incrediwear on post-TKA measures. Methods: In this single-center prospective clinical pilot study, patients undergoing TKA were assigned to either the compression stocking (control) or Incrediwear (experimental) group. Subjects were evaluated preoperatively and postoperative at 3 weeks for pain, knee effusion, knee range of motion (ROM), thigh and calf circumferences. Results: Incrediwear subjects had slightly higher preoperative effusion than controls (mean effusion 1.38 vs. 1.16, p = .28); however, by week 3, Incrediwear subjects had lower levels of effusion than controls (1.12 vs. 1.56, p = .015). At week 3, when compared to pre-op, Incrediwear subjects experienced a 19% decrease in effusion while controls experienced a 35% increase in effusion (p = .003). Preoperatively, there were no differences observed between Incrediwear subjects and controls flexion ROM (mean ROM 117 vs. 116, p = .67); however, by week 3, Incrediwear subjects had greater flexion ROM than controls (113 vs. 108, p = .02). Incrediwear subjects experienced only a 3% decrease in flexion ROM while controls experienced a 7% decrease in ROM (p = .07). Incrediwear subjects reported higher preoperative pain than controls (mean pain 4.2 vs. 3.2, p = .051); however, by week 3, there was no difference observed between these groups (2.9 vs. 3.0, p = .440). Discussion: Non-compressive sleeves embedded with semiconductor elements (Incrediwear) appeared to reduce effusion and improve knee flexion better than traditional compression stockings 3 weeks after total knee arthroplasty.

Maturation-dependent patterns of knee injuries among symptomatic pediatric soccer players on MRI.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically investigate the prevalence of knee MRI findings among symptomatic pediatric soccer players with respect to skeletal maturity and to identify predictors of surgery. METHODS: This IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant retrospective study included soccer players (< 18 years of age) who underwent MRI examinations in the past 5 years (2018-2023). Two radiologists retrospectively and independently reviewed all examinations to categorize skeletal maturity and to identify osseous and soft tissue findings. Findings were compared between maturation groups, and logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-seven players (45 boys, 52 girls) included 39 skeletally immature, 21 maturing, and 37 mature knees. Kappa coefficient for interobserver reliability ranged between 0.65 and 1.00. Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) was more common among immature than maturing and mature knees (25% vs 14% and 5%, p = 0.04); anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury was more common among maturing and mature than immature knees (59% and 48%, vs 15%, p < 0.01); and meniscal tears were more common among mature than immature and maturing knees (medial, 41% vs 18% and 14%, p = 0.03; lateral, 43% vs 21% and 19%, p = 0.04). Players in the mature group were more likely to undergo surgery (p = 0.01). The presence of an effusion (OR = 19.5, 95% CI 2.8-240.9, p = 0.01), ACL injury (OR = 170.0, 95% CI 1.3-6996.9, p < 0.01), and lateral meniscal tears (OR = 10.8, 95% CI 1.8-106.1, p = 0.02) were independent predictors of surgery. CONCLUSION: Differential patterns of injury were found among symptomatic pediatric soccer players; the presence of an effusion, ACL injury, and lateral meniscal tears were independent predictors of surgery, likely contributing to the higher rates of surgery among skeletally mature players.

Bilateral Knee Septic Arthritis in a Seven-Month-Old Girl.

Septic arthritis (SA) is a type of joint inflammation caused by an infection. It is an orthopedic emergency that requires immediate treatment to avoid serious complications such as joint destruction, osteomyelitis, and sepsis. We present a case of bilateral knee SA in a seven-month-old female who presented to our emergency department with left knee SA, followed by right knee SA one month later.

Swelling assessment after total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty is a commonly performed elective orthopaedic surgery. Patients may endure substantial knee swelling following surgery, which are attributable to both effusion and edema. Studies have been aiming to identify an accurate and reliable method to quantify post-operative knee swelling to aid monitoring progress and treatment. The aim of this article was to review the means of clinically applicable measurements for knee swelling post TKA. METHODS: The medical literature was searched using PubMed to search for articles published using the terms knee edema, effusion, swelling, knee arthroplasty, knee replacement, total knee arthroplasty, total knee replacement, TKA, TKR. Year of publication was not restricted. Only English language publications were included. Only full-text published articles from peer-reviewed journals were eligible for inclusion. The knee swelling measurement methods used in post TKA were reviewed. RESULTS: Advancement in bioimpedance spectroscopy and handheld 3D scanning technology allows quick and precise quantification of knee swelling volume that the traditional clinical circumferential measurement and volumetric measurement lack. Handheld 3D scanning is also a potential tool to estimate the change of knee effusion volume and muscular volume after the surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging is accurate in effusion measurement but also the most time and resource demanding method. CONCLUSION: Bioimpedance spectroscopy and 3D scanning technology can be the future tools for clinically measurement of knee swelling after total knee arthroplasty.

Diagnostic Criteria for the Painful Swollen Pediatric Knee: Distinguishing Septic Arthritis From Aseptic Effusion in a Non-Lyme Endemic Area.

Purpose: The child with a painful swollen knee must be worked-up for possible septic arthritis; the classic clinical prediction algorithms for septic arthritis of the hip may not be the best models to apply to the knee. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective case-control study of 17 years of children presenting to one hospital with a chief complaint of a painful swollen knee, to evaluate the appropriateness of applying a previously described clinical practice algorithm for the hip in differentiating between the septic and aseptic causes of the painful knee effusions. The diagnoses of true septic arthritis, presumed septic arthritis, and aseptic effusion were established, based upon the cultures of synovial fluid, blood cultures, synovial cell counts, and clinical course. Using a logistic regression model, the disease status was regressed on both the demographic and clinical variables. Results: In the study, 122 patients were included: 51 with true septic arthritis, 37 with presumed septic arthritis, and 34 with aseptic knee effusion. After applying a backward elimination, age <5 years and C-reactive protein (CRP) >2.0 mg/dl remained in the model, and predicted probabilities of having septic knee arthritis ranged from 15% for the lowest risk to 95% for the highest risk. Adding a knee aspiration including percent polymorphonucleocytes (%PMN) substantially improved the overall model performance, lowering the lowest risk to 11% while raising the highest risk to 96%. Conclusions: This predictive model suggests that the likelihood of pediatric septic arthritis of the knee is >90% when both "age <5 years" and "CRP > 2.0 mg/dl" are present in a child with a painful swollen knee, though, in the absence of these factors, the risk of septic arthritis remains over 15%. Aspiration of the knee for those patients would be the best next step.

Traumatic knee injury: correlation of radiographic effusion size with the presence of internal derangement on magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: Traumatic knee injury is a common clinical presentation. However, knee internal derangement often goes undiagnosed on physical exam. The authors hypothesize that patients with suprapatellar joint effusion greater than 10 mm anteroposterior diameter on lateral radiograph have a high likelihood of knee internal derangement on magnetic resonance imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of knee radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging in 198 patients age 18-40 years with acute knee injury was performed. Suprapatellar effusion diameter on lateral radiography was correlated to the presence of internal derangement on magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging anteroposterior effusion size at four locations was correlated to radiographic suprapatellar effusion measurements. RESULTS: Logistic regression showed a positive correlation between radiographic effusion size and the presence of internal derangement on magnetic resonance exams (p value < 0.001). Radiographic effusion > 10 mm was established as a positive test, yielding test sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 55, 96, 93, 71, and 77%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed the radiographic anteroposterior effusion diameter most closely approximated the magnetic resonance effusion diameter at the lateral patellofemoral recess. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that knee radiography is a highly specific screening test for internal derangement in patients less than 40 years old with acute knee injury. In this patient population, knee effusion > 10 mm on lateral radiograph should prompt consideration for knee magnetic resonance examination. Adopting this approach as a clinical guideline has the potential to decrease delayed diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and decrease cost-associated disability.

Low-dose Spironolactone: Treatment for Osteoarthritis-related Knee Effusion. A Prospective Clinical and Sonographic-based Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of spironolactone as a treatment for osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee effusion in comparison to ibuprofen, cold compresses, and placebo. METHODS: This study was carried out on 200 patients, aged 40 years or older, attending the outpatient clinic of the Rheumatology Department of Sohag University Hospital with unilateral knee effusion related to OA based on clinical examination, musculoskeletal ultrasonography (US), and synovial fluid analysis. In group 1, 50 patients received spironolactone 25 mg daily for 2 weeks; in group 2, 50 patients took ibuprofen 1200 mg daily for 2 weeks; in group 3, 50 patients used cold compresses 2 times daily for 2 weeks; and in group 4, 50 patients received placebo for the same duration. Fluid > 4 mm was considered as effusion. Decrease in fluid to reach below 4-mm thickness was considered complete improvement, and any decrease that did not reach below 4 mm thickness was considered partial improvement. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 51.2 ± 8.1 years. The mean duration of effusion was 16.5 ± 3.6 days. In group 1, 66% had complete improvement, 20% partial improvement, and 14% no response. In group 2, 24% had complete improvement, 12% partial improvement, and 64% no response. In group 3, 28% had complete improvement, 14% partial improvement, and 58% no response. In group 4, only 6% had complete improvement, 10% partial improvement, and 84% no response. CONCLUSION: Low-dose spironolactone is a safe and effective medical treatment for OA-related knee effusion.

Joint effusion of the knee: potentialities and limitations of ultrasonography.

PURPOSE: This study aimed at comparing the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of joint effusion of the knee. METHODS: For this retrospective study, approbation by the institutional review board was not required, and written informed consent from the patients was waived. One hundred and fifty-eight patients (83 men and 75 women; median age 41.2 years; age range 13-81 years) who underwent US and MRI of the knee were included in the study. The sensitivity and specificity of US with respect to MRI in the evaluation of the effusion of the knee and in each recess were compared. RESULTS: In evaluating joint effusion of the knee, compared with MRI, US correctly identified 78 of 96 patients with joint effusion, showing a sensitivity of 81.3 % and a specificity of 100 %, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100 % and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 77.5 % (p value = 0.001). Various results were obtained comparing ultrasound with MRI, regarding the various recesses. CONCLUSION: US showed high specificity and sensitivity in diagnosing knee joint effusion and could be used in patients who cannot undergo MRI.

Lyme Disease Presenting as a Spontaneous Knee Effusion.

Musculoskeletal complaints, which are frequently associated with Lyme disease, often prompt patients to see a physician. In particular, transient episodes of spontaneous knee effusion are common early in the progression of Lyme disease, and, if left untreated, 60% of patients diagnosed with the disease develop Lyme arthritis. This disease is easily treated with antibiotics; therefore, inclusion of Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis as a potential cause of a spontaneous knee effusion can prevent the development of more severe symptoms associated with the disease. However, the time required to receive test results and the inconsistencies between serum and synovial tests can complicate diagnosis of the disease.

Ultrasound for knee effusion: lipohaemarthrosis and tibial plateau fracture.

Knee trauma and effusion are common Emergency Department presentations. This article outlines the clinician's sonographic approach to knee effusion detection and localisation. A case where lipohaemarthrosis was detected with ultrasound is demonstrated, and the characteristic appearance of this pathology discussed. The sonographic detection of the associated tibial fracture is also demonstrated.

Clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound assessment of the knee in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to study the ultrasonographic (USG) features of knee joints in relation to clinical and laboratory measures in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and also to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of local joint activity. METHODS: This study included 20 with JRA and 20 matched and apparently healthy controls. All patients were subjected to full history taking, careful clinical examination and laboratory investigation. The knee joints of all patients and control were examined with plain radiography and ultrasonography on the same day of clinical examination using ultrasound to detect synovial thickness and effusion at the knee. RESULTS: Mean USG knee synovial thickness was significantly greater in JRA patients versus controls (4.2 ± 2.4 mm versus 1.7 ± 0.3 mm, P < 0.001). Although knee effusion was not detected in any of the controls, it was demonstrated in 90% of JRA patients, with a mean effusion volume of 3.8 ± 3.1 mL. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) between clinically active and inactive knees with regard to knee synovial thickness. Mean knee effusion volume was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the clinically active than in the clinically inactive knees. Patients with high disease activity had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher knee synovial thickness and knee effusion volume than patients with low and moderate disease activity. Significantly (P < 0.05) positive correlations were found between knee synovial thickness and articular index (AI) scores, disease activity score, clinical knee scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Significant positive correlations (P < 0.05) were found between knee effusion volume and AI scores, visual analog scores, disease activity scores, clinical knee scores, ESR, and CRP levels. Significant negative correlations (P < 0.05) were found between knee effusion volumes and hemoglobin levels. CONCLUSION: UGS-detected parameters represent a reliable index of JRA disease activity with a higher sensitivity for knee synovial thickness and higher specificity for knee effusion.