Abstract: Rate of Knee Cartilage Loss After Partial Meniscectomy

Rate of Knee Cartilage Loss After Partial Meniscectomy

FLAVIA M. CICUTTINI, ANDREW FORBES, WANG YUANYUAN, GLEN RUSH, and STEPHEN L. STUCKEY

ABSTRACT.

Objective. Surgical removal of the meniscus of the knee is thought to be a risk factor for later appearance of knee osteoarthritis (OA). We examined whether there is a difference in cartilage loss in those who undergo a partial meniscectomy compared to healthy controls.

Methods. Eight patients who underwent a meniscectomy (5 partial medial, 3 partial lateral) and 13 controls with normal knee radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had an MRI at baseline and at a mean 28.6 ± 7.6 months followup. Articular cartilage volumes were determined by processing images acquired in the sagittal plane using T1 weighted fat saturation MRI on an independent work station.

Results. The mean ± SD of percentage rates of cartilage loss from baseline volume were 4.1 ± 2.8% per year for the meniscectomy subjects and -2.3 ± 3.0% per year for the controls (difference 6.5% per year, 95% CI 3.7-9.3% per year; p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, body mass index, and sex the difference increased slightly to 6.9% per year (95% CI 3.4-10.3%; p = 0.001).

Conclusion. This study suggests that significant rates of cartilage loss are seen in subjects post partial meniscectomy compared with healthy controls. This may be a useful model in which to examine therapies to prevent OA. (J Rheumatol 2002;29:1954-6)

Key Indexing Terms:

MENISCECTOMY
KNEE CARTILAGE LOSS
LONGITUDINAL STUDY

From the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Medical School, and Department of Radiology, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.

F.M. Cicuttini, FRACP, PhD, Associate Professor; A. Forbes, PhD, Associate Professor and Biostatistician; W. Yuanyuan, MMed, Research Assistant, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Medical School; G. Rush, BAAppSc (Med Radiation), Radiographer, MRI Unit; S.L. Stuckey, FRACR, Radiologist, MRI Unit, Department of Radiology, Alfred Hospital.

Address reprint requests to Dr. F. Cicuttini, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia. E-mail: flavia.cicuttini@med.monash.edu.au

Submitted August 23, 2001; revision accepted February 28, 2002.