Prevalence and clinical-radiological features of hand osteoarthritis in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Correlation of Pain and Physical Disability with Radiological Features of Knee Osteoarthritis

There is a need for an integrated assessment combining clinical evaluation and radiological findings to guide treatment planning for patients with knee OA, and BMI is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis.

Associations of Knee Symptomatic, Radiographic, and Structural Abnormalities With Contralateral Knee Osteoarthritis Progression.

AIM To investigate associations of symptomatic, radiographic, and structural knee indicators with radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) progression in the contralateral knee among individuals with or at risk of OA. METHODS Data were obtained from the Osteoarthritis Initiative Database (accessed on December 21, 2022), with knees as the unit of analysis. Baseline exposures included symptomatic measures (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC], Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score), radiographic features (radiographic OA status, Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] grades, joint space width [JSW], and alignment), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based structural abnormalities (MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score [MOAKS]-assessed lesions including cartilage defects, bone marrow lesions, meniscal morphology, Hoffa-synovitis, and effusion-synovitis). Outcomes were 4-year contralateral KL grades and 4-year JSW change. Generalized estimating equation models were used. RESULTS Each 1-point increase in WOMAC total score was associated with increased contralateral KL grades (β = 0.002, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.001 to 0.003) and greater medial JSW narrowing (β = -0.005 mm, 95% CI, -0.007 to -0.003 mm). Radiographic OA status was associated with higher KL grades (β = 0.112, 95% CI, 0.088 to 0.136) and reduced medial JSW (β = -0.179 mm, 95% CI, -0.236 to -0.122 mm) and lateral JSW (β = -0.168 mm, 95% CI, -0.257 to -0.079 mm). MRI-based analyses showed that MOAKS-defined structural damage was associated with greater contralateral JSW loss, with compartment-specific patterns. Each 1-point increase in medial tibiofemoral (TF) joint bone marrow lesion (BML) size was associated with a 0.045 mm decrease in contralateral medial JSW (95% CI, -0.065 to -0.025 mm), while each 1-point increase lateral TF joint BML size was associated with a 0.048 mm decrease in contralateral lateral JSW (95% CI, -0.084 to -0.012 mm). CONCLUSIONS Worse symptomatic, radiographic, and structural knee status is associated with contralateral radiographic OA progression, suggesting contralateral knee condition should be considered in OA evaluation.

The Impact of Systemic Comorbidities on the Radiographic Severity of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background and Aim: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal disorder associated with systemic comorbidities. However, the relationship between the radiographic severity of KOA and comorbidities remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between common systemic comorbidities and the radiographic severity of KOA. Materials and Methods: A total of 181 patients with KOA were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities, including hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), thyroid disease, and other systemic comorbidities, were recorded according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Radiographic severity was assessed using the Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grading system. Associations between comorbidities and KL grade were evaluated using chi-square tests. Ordinal logistic regression analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and BMI. Results: The mean age of the participants was 68.7±9.1 years, and the mean BMI was 29.4±4.5 kg/m². HT was present in 56.4% of patients with KOA, DM in 23.2%, and thyroid disease in 21.5%. Patients with HT demonstrated greater radiographic severity, with 44.1% classified as KL grades 3–4, compared with 16.5% of patients without HT (χ²=16.18, p=0.001). In the adjusted ordinal logistic regression analysis, HT remained independently associated with higher KL grades (p=0.004). No significant associations were observed between KL grade and DM, thyroid disease, other comorbidities, or CCI. Conclusion: HT was independently associated with greater radiographic severity of KOA, whereas the other evaluated comorbidities showed no significant associations. These findings support a potential role for vascular and systemic mechanisms in KOA progression and highlight the importance of cardiovascular health in patients with KOA.

Comparison of Ultrasonographic and Radiographic Findings in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Cross-sectional Study

USG provides improved detection of osteophytes and offers additional information on soft-tissue and early structural changes in knee OA and serves as a valuable, accessible adjunct to conventional radiography for comprehensive evaluation and early diagnosis of knee OA.

Association Between Obesity and Severe Knee Osteoarthritis

Correlation Between Pain Intensity and Functional Limitation in Early Knee Osteoarthritis - A Pilot Study

Background and purpose: Early knee Osteoarthritis (EKOA), despite minor changes on X-ray, often presents with considerable pain and limitations of function. Pain is considered the primary factor influencing activity restriction, yet the link between severity of pain and measurable functional performance in EKOA remains underexplored. Method: This pilot study recruited 15 participants (aged 41–55 years) with radiographically confirmed EKOA (Kellgren–Lawrence grade 1 - 2). The severity of pain was measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and disability using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Objective functional ability was examined using the Timed Up and Go (TUG), 30 second Chair Stand Test (CSTS), and Stair Climb Test (SC). Pearson correlation was used to examine pain-function association. Result: Pain intensity showed a strong positive correlation with TUG (r = 0.903, p = 0.000) and SC (r = 0.791, p =0 .000), and a strong negative correlation with CSTS repetitions (r = –0.925, p =0 .000), confirming that higher pain intensity is linked with greater functional limitation. Conclusion: This pilot study shows pain intensity strongly predicts functional decline in EKOA. It highlights reduced strength and mobility, underscoring the need for early pain management with strengthening interventions to preserve function and delay progression.