Anteromedial knee osteoarthritis (AMOA) evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a cohort study of 100 patients

Abstract

Introduction Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are increasingly used for knee osteoarthritis evaluation and preoperative planning before unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), and often patients already have MRI scans before their initial surgeon consultation. This highlights the need for surgeons to understand anteromedial osteoarthritis (AMOA) patterns on MRI. Hence, we aim to describe MRI findings in patients with AMOA meeting current indications for medial UKA. Materials and methods We analysed MRI scans from 100 knees evaluated for UKA between 2006 and 2013. Inclusion criteria comprised full-thickness medial compartment loss and intact lateral compartment joint space on preoperative radiographs. Assessment included cartilage lesions, osteophytes, meniscal damage, and anterior-cruciate ligament (ACL) status on tibial and femoral surfaces. Final decision to proceed with UKA relied on intraoperative findings, independent of MRI. Results Complete anteromedial tibial and femoral cartilage loss preserved posterior cartilage rims was evident in all cases. Cartilage thinning occurred in the lateral compartment in 34% of cases. While 62% displayed lateral osteophytes, only 6 exhibited small areas of full-thickness cartilage loss. ACL abnormalities varied: 27% normal, 3% ruptured, and 70% had intrasubstance high signal. Larger osteophytes in the medial (p = 0.012) and lateral (p = 0.002) intercondylar notch correlated significantly with ACL damage. All underwent medial UKA, with no evidence of areas with full lateral compartment cartilage loss intraoperatively. Conclusions The MRI findings confirmed the radiographic diagnosis of bone-on-bone medial disease but highlights a range of findings in the ACL, lateral compartment, and patellofemoral joint compartment for patients who met the current x-ray and intraoperative indication for UKA. Further research is required to understand if these MRI changes will affect long-term outcomes.