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Joint Space Width in Knee Osteoarthritis

Assessing the effect of bone marrow lesions

Publish date:: January 25, 2016

Bone marrow lesions (BML) on knee MRI predicted the rate of radiographic change in joint space width (JSW), according to a study of 559 men and women over age 50 years with clinical knee osteoarthritis. Researchers found:

Mean age of patients was 62.8 years and 73% were female.

38.6% of patients had BML.

Mean baseline JSW was 3.65 mm.

JSW reduced by 0.18 mm/year in men and 0.13 mm/year in women.

Patients with BML had a significantly higher rate of annualized change in JSW; the relationship remained robust after adjustment for age, sex, and baseline Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade.

Age, sex, baseline KL grade, and other MRI findings did not influence the rate of JSW change.

Citation: Edwards MH, Parsons C, Bruyère, et al. High Kellgren-Lawrence grade and bone marrow lesions predict worsening rates of radiographic joint space narrowing; the SEKOIA study. [Published online ahead of print January 15, 2016]. J Rheum. doi:10.3899/jrheum.150053

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