Abstract
BackgroundQuantitative measurement of knee joint effusion by ultrasonography has not been well established; however, a categorical measurement (e.g., a ≥4-mm-deep suprapatellar pouch) is recommended. Therefore, the current study aimed to elucidate the association between symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and the quantitative measurement of suprapatellar effusion by ultrasonography.MethodsOne hundred twenty-seven volunteers participated (31 men and 96 women; mean age: 68.3 ± 9.8 years; body mass index: 23.2 ± 3.0 kg/m2). The Kellgren-Lawrence grades (KLGs) of both knees were assessed; all subjects had definitive osteoarthritic change (KLG ≥2) in both knee joints. Joint effusion was evaluated using an ultrasound probe, which was placed longitudinally on the suprapatellar pouch, and we determined the area (mm2) of the echo-free space. Then we summed the effusion area of both knees. All subjects answered the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scale (KOOS) questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to elucidate the association between the summed value of the knee effusion area and the KOOS subscales, which were adjusted by age, sex, body mass index, and KLG.ResultsOf 254 knees, 180 were KLG 2, 57 were KLG 3, and 17 were KLG 4. The multiple regression models showed that the quantitative knee effusion area significantly correlated with the following KOOS subscales: pain (B = −0.057; β = −0.253; P = 0.002), symptom (B = −0.053; β = −0.251; P = 0.002), sport and recreation (B = −0.069; β = −0.205; P = 0.007), and quality of life (B = −0.083; β = −0.276; P = 0.001).ConclusionIn this cross-sectional study, the quantitative measurement of suprapatellar effusion by ultrasonography was associated with symptoms of radiographic knee OA.
Highlights
Quantitative measurement of knee joint effusion by ultrasonography has not been well established; a categorical measurement (e.g., a ≥4-mm-deep suprapatellar pouch) is recommended
Most previous studies have only described the effect of knee effusion based on categorical evaluations such as the whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) [12] using MRI or the European League Against Rheumatism recommendation [10] to determine whether the depth of the suprapatellar pouch is ≥4 mm or deeper on ultrasonography
Comparison of the suprapatellar effusion area identified on ultrasonography, demographic data, and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scale (KOOS)
Summary
Quantitative measurement of knee joint effusion by ultrasonography has not been well established; a categorical measurement (e.g., a ≥4-mm-deep suprapatellar pouch) is recommended. Most previous studies have only described the effect of knee effusion based on categorical evaluations such as the whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) [12] using MRI or the European League Against Rheumatism recommendation [10] to determine whether the depth of the suprapatellar pouch is ≥4 mm or deeper on ultrasonography. It is still unclear whether the quantitative evaluation of knee effusion has any effect in determining the patient’s pain status. The present study aimed to (1) establish a novel method for quantitatively measuring suprapatellar effusion on an ultrasonographic image by tracing the border of effusion and calculating its area, and (2) elucidate the association between the quantitative evaluation of suprapatellar effusion and pain status in Japanese patients
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