Comparison of radiographic and MRI osteoarthritis definitions and their combination for prediction of tibial cartilage loss, knee symptoms and total knee replacement - a longitudinal study

Abstract

Purpose: In the absence of a clear definition of osteoarthritis (OA) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) OA Imaging Working Group developed a definition of MRI-defined structural OA (MRI-OA) by incorporating MRI changes using a Delphi approach, but this needs validation. This study aimed to assess whether MRI-OA is superior to the radiographic definition of OA (ROA) by describing their value for predicting tibial cartilage loss, knee pain and disability and total knee replacement (TKR) in a population-based cohort.