Association of subchondral bone marrow lesion localisation with weight bearing pain in people with knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative
Background Subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs) detected on MRI in knee osteoarthritis (OA) are associated with knee pain. The prevalence and progression of subchondral BMLs are increased by mechanical knee load. However, associations of subchondral BML location with weight-bearing knee pain are currently unknown. In this study, we aim to demonstrate associations of subchondral BML location and size with weight-bearing knee pain in knee OA.
Methods We analyzed 1412 and 582 varus knees from cross-sectional and longitudinal Osteoarthritis Initiative datasets, respectively. BML scores were semi-quantitatively analysed with the MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score for 4 subchondral regions (median and lateral femorotibial, medial and lateral patellofemoral) and subspinous region. Weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing pain scores were derived from WOMAC pain items. Correlation and negative binomial regression models were used for analysis of associations between the BML scores and pain at baseline, and changes in the BML scores and changes in pain after 24-month follow up.
Results Greater BML scores at medial femorotibial and lateral patellofemoral compartments were associated with greater weight-bearing pain scores, and statistical significance was retained after adjusting for BML scores at the other 4 joint compartments and other OA features, as well as for non-weight-bearing pain, age, sex and Body Mass Index (BMI) (medial femorotibial; B=0.08, p=0.02. patellofemoral; B=0.13, p=0.01). Subanalysis revealed that greater medial femorotibial BML scores were associated with greater pain on walking and standing (B=0.11, p=0.01, and B=0.10, p=0.04, respectively). Lateral patellofemoral BML scores were associated with pain on climbing, respectively B=0.14, p=0.02. Increases or decreases over 24 months in BML score in the medial femorotibial compartment were significantly associated with increases or decreases in weight-bearing pain severity after adjusting for non-weight-bearing pain, age, sex, baseline weight-bearing pain, BMI, and BML at the other 4 joint compartments (B=0.10, p=0.01).
Conclusions Subchondral BML size at the medial femorotibial joint compartment was specifically associated with the severity and the change in weight-bearing pain, independent of non-weight-bearing pain, in knee OA. Specific associations of weight-bearing pain with subchondral BMLs in weight-bearing compartments of the knee indicate that BMLs in subchondral bone contribute to biomechanically-induced OA pain.
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Posted 14 Jan, 2021
On 04 Jan, 2021
On 04 Jan, 2021
On 04 Jan, 2021
On 16 Dec, 2020
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On 16 Dec, 2020
On 06 Dec, 2020
Received 20 Nov, 2020
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On 17 Nov, 2020
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On 17 Nov, 2020
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On 10 Jul, 2020
Association of subchondral bone marrow lesion localisation with weight bearing pain in people with knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative
Posted 14 Jan, 2021
On 04 Jan, 2021
On 04 Jan, 2021
On 04 Jan, 2021
On 16 Dec, 2020
On 16 Dec, 2020
On 16 Dec, 2020
On 06 Dec, 2020
Received 20 Nov, 2020
On 17 Nov, 2020
Invitations sent on 17 Nov, 2020
On 17 Nov, 2020
On 17 Nov, 2020
On 17 Nov, 2020
On 10 Oct, 2020
Received 05 Sep, 2020
On 22 Aug, 2020
Invitations sent on 14 Jul, 2020
On 12 Jul, 2020
On 11 Jul, 2020
On 11 Jul, 2020
On 10 Jul, 2020
Background Subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs) detected on MRI in knee osteoarthritis (OA) are associated with knee pain. The prevalence and progression of subchondral BMLs are increased by mechanical knee load. However, associations of subchondral BML location with weight-bearing knee pain are currently unknown. In this study, we aim to demonstrate associations of subchondral BML location and size with weight-bearing knee pain in knee OA.
Methods We analyzed 1412 and 582 varus knees from cross-sectional and longitudinal Osteoarthritis Initiative datasets, respectively. BML scores were semi-quantitatively analysed with the MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score for 4 subchondral regions (median and lateral femorotibial, medial and lateral patellofemoral) and subspinous region. Weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing pain scores were derived from WOMAC pain items. Correlation and negative binomial regression models were used for analysis of associations between the BML scores and pain at baseline, and changes in the BML scores and changes in pain after 24-month follow up.
Results Greater BML scores at medial femorotibial and lateral patellofemoral compartments were associated with greater weight-bearing pain scores, and statistical significance was retained after adjusting for BML scores at the other 4 joint compartments and other OA features, as well as for non-weight-bearing pain, age, sex and Body Mass Index (BMI) (medial femorotibial; B=0.08, p=0.02. patellofemoral; B=0.13, p=0.01). Subanalysis revealed that greater medial femorotibial BML scores were associated with greater pain on walking and standing (B=0.11, p=0.01, and B=0.10, p=0.04, respectively). Lateral patellofemoral BML scores were associated with pain on climbing, respectively B=0.14, p=0.02. Increases or decreases over 24 months in BML score in the medial femorotibial compartment were significantly associated with increases or decreases in weight-bearing pain severity after adjusting for non-weight-bearing pain, age, sex, baseline weight-bearing pain, BMI, and BML at the other 4 joint compartments (B=0.10, p=0.01).
Conclusions Subchondral BML size at the medial femorotibial joint compartment was specifically associated with the severity and the change in weight-bearing pain, independent of non-weight-bearing pain, in knee OA. Specific associations of weight-bearing pain with subchondral BMLs in weight-bearing compartments of the knee indicate that BMLs in subchondral bone contribute to biomechanically-induced OA pain.
Figure 1
Figure 2