Tibial plateau size is related to grade of joint space narrowing and osteophytes in healthy women and in women with osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relation of bone size to radiographic severity in knee osteoarthritis. Methods: 149 women (81 healthy and 68 with knee osteoarthritis) underwent knee radiography and magnetic resonance imaging on their symptomatic or dominant knee. Tibial plateau bone area was measured at baseline and at follow up. Results: Women with osteoarthritis had larger medial and lateral tibial plateau bone area (mean (SD): 1850 (240) mm² and 1279 (220) mm², respectively) than healthy women (1670 (200) mm² and 1050 (130) mm²) (p2 in the medial compartment and 102 mm² in the lateral compartment. Similarly, for each increase in grade of joint space narrowing, tibial plateau bone area increased by 160 mm² in the medial compartment and 131 mm² in the lateral compartment (significance of regression coefficients all pConclusions: With increasing severity of radiographic knee osteoarthritis, tibial plateau size increases. Whether this bone increase plays a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis remains to be determined.