Healthy knee asymmetry is a potential risk factor for knee osteoarthritis: Data from the osteoarthritis initiative
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Objective: Commonly used grading systems in knee osteoarthritis (OA) evaluation provide an overview of the disease severity with limited prognostic ability. Recently, efforts towards automated and objective deep- and machine-learning, and computational modeling-based prediction tools have been made, but they are complex and lack interpretability. This study aimed to identify knee joint morphology measures that can be easily quantified from plain radiographs and are indicative of the risk of radiographic OA development among subjects without definite radiographic OA, focusing especially on the asymmetry of the knees. Materials and Methods: Knee joint dimensions and angles were measured from anterior-posterior weight-bearing knee radiographs at baseline and 8-year follow-up time point. The subjects were grouped based on Kellgren-Lawrence grades at the 8-year follow-up and compared with regard to the knee joint dimensions and angles and their asymmetries between the subjects' knees. Results: Absolute dimensions or angles at baseline were not associated with OA development. Instead, the asymmetry in the dimensions (relative difference between the left and right knee), was higher in subjects who developed radiographic knee OA during 8-year follow-up. The medial joint space asymmetry was associated with the development of advanced knee OA when it was over 10 % (OR = 1.87) or 15 % (OR = 3.27). Conclusions: Medial joint space asymmetry between the left and right knee of over 10 % could be a potential risk factor for developing knee OA.
Source: Osteoarthritis Imaging
Authors: Mikael J. Turunen, Alexander Paz, Lauri Stenroth, Santtu Mikkonen, Mimmi K. Liukkonen, Mika E. Mononen
Institutions: University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Rheumatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $1,400
Awards: G1387122842, ??Role of calcified cartilage and subchondral bone in early osteoarthritis: Characterizing alterations that precede and influence cartilage degeneration?, G1725953725, G1803817292, G2342966070, G2794021759, G2806376747, Development and validation of template-based modeling to predict patient specific progression of knee osteoarthritis, and possibilities in economic and societal benefits, G3429939743, G3838259607, G390694876, G3971452047, G4395603410, A real-time biofeedback intervention for improving tibiofemoral cartilage quality in older adults, G5646291224, G5654539734, G5716223526, G6811053302, G6954856633, Role of age-related loss of muscle function in knee osteoarthritis, G7224766987, G7825834944, G7876590852, G8234285353, G8602293357
OpenAlex ID: W7106263074