May 2, 2017
LAS VEGAS — Young athletes who previously sustained an intra-articular knee injury had a higher risk of structural changes associated with future osteoarthritis, according to results presented at the Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress.
“Young adults around the age of 22 [years] who sustained an intra-articular knee injury when they were about 16 [years of age] playing sport appeared to be at a higher risk of structural changes associated with future osteoarthritis,” Jackie L. Whittaker, PhD, said in her presentation.
Whittaker and colleagues compared 100 patients who had an intra-articular knee injury while participating in sports with 100 control patients matched for age, sex and sport. Primary outcome measure was a structural outcome of MRI-defined osteoarthritis (OA), while secondary outcomes included KOOS measures, weekly physical activity and normalized knee extensor isometric torque, according to Whittaker.
Results showed patients who had a previous injury had a 25% higher prevalence of MRI-defined OA 3 years to 10 years after injury. Whittaker noted patients who had a torn ACL or injured meniscus appeared to have the highest risk of structural changes. She said patients who had a previous injury scored lower on the KOOS score, with the most significant differences in the symptom subscale and the knee-related quality of life.
“Although we did not see a difference between the two groups with respect to the total metabolic equivalence of physical activity across the week, we did see that those with a previous injury had lower aerobic fitness, estimated with a 20-meter shuttle run,” Whittaker said.
She added patients with previous injury were two-times more likely to be in the lowest quartile for physical activity. Results showed weaker knee extensors and weaker knee flexors among patients who had a previous injury.
“Previously injured participants had a higher BMI, a higher fat mass index and they had higher abdominal fat,” Whittaker said. “When we dichotomized what we saw was those with a previous injury were about 2.5-times more likely to be overweight or obese by BMI; 4.4-times more likely to be in the upper quartile for fat mass index; and almost six-times more likely to be in the upper quartile for abdominal fat.” – by Casey Tingle
Reference:
Whittaker JL, et al. Paper #65. Presented at: Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress; April 27-30, 2017; Las Vegas.
Disclosure: Whittaker reports relevant financial disclosures.