Increased signal intensity, not volume variation of infrapatellar fat pad in knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study based on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. (5th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Jinshen; Ba, Hongliang; Feng, Jing; Peng, Cheng; Liao, Yunjie; Li, Lifeng; Cao, Xu; Wang, Zili; Shen, Minren; Wu, Song
• Is Part Of: Journal of orthopaedic surgery. Volume 30:Number 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04-05
• Subjects: infrapatellar fat pad -- magnetic resonance imaging -- osteoarthritis -- signal intensity; Orthopedic surgery -- Periodicals; Orthopedics; Orthopedic surgery; Periodicals; 617.3
• DOI: 10.1177/10225536221092215
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-5536

Abstract

Background: Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) is regarded as an essential knee tissue involved in osteoarthritis (OA) for its potential structural-related or metabolism-related function. This cross-sectional study aims to identify which part is more related to OA. Methods: Patients with knee OA ( n = 53) and healthy controls ( n = 54) were prospectively recruited. Based on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging with a slice thickness of only 0.35 mm, IPFP structural-related parameters (volume and maximal area), metabolism-related parameter (signal), degeneration indicators, and patellar maltracking indicators (patellar translation, patellofemoral angle, and Insall-Salvati ratio) were measured. IPFP volume (maximal area, and signal) was compared between healthy controls and OA patients. The level of significance for all comparisons was set as .05. Results: OA patients had higher IPFP signal (672.9 ± 136.9 vs 567.3 ± 63.6, p = .009), but no significant difference in IPFP volume or maximal area compared with healthy controls. In healthy controls, IPFP signal was positively associated with age ( β = 1.481; 95% CI: 0.286–2.676; p = .018); IPFP maximal area was positively related to Insall-Salvati ratio ( β = 0.001; 95% CI: 0.0003–0.0017; p = .039), but not associated with patellar translation and patellofemoral angle. In OA patients, IPFP signal was positively associated with cartilage loss ( β = 0.005; 95% CI: 0.003–0.007; p = .013); no correlation between knee pain and IPFP volume or maximal area was observed. Conclusions: The metabolism-related function of IPFP, which can be reflected by the IPFP signal, might play a more critical role in OA progression than its structural function.