Early diagnosis of knee OA based on quantitative MRI evaluation and gait analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09575
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Nakamura Eiichi 熊本大学, 病院, 医員 (70274719)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 岡元 信和 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(医), 特定研究員 (70600162) ; 舛田 哲朗 熊本大学, 病院, 特任助教 (20794530)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 変形性膝関節症 / 早期変形性膝関節症 / 関節軟骨 / MRI定量評価 / 歩行解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, patient recruitment was hampered by the Covid-19 virus pandemic disaster, and only limited results were obtained. Thirty-five early OA knees were included in the study based on the International Criteria for the Diagnosis of Early Knee Osteoarthritis (OA), and 12 healthy knees were used as the control group. MRI qualitative evaluation of articular cartilage showed no difference between early OA knees and healthy knees. Therefore, no cut-off value or estimated value could be established. In gait analysis, the range of motion of the knee joint flexion was decreased in the early OA patients compared to the healthy group. The results of the present study indicate that articular cartilage changes are not seen in early OA knees, and these values cannot be used to identify early OA knees, making it difficult to supplement the diagnostic criteria for early OA knees.

Free Research Field

整形外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

変形性膝関節症（膝OA）の発症予防や早期の診断・治療法の確立は，健康寿命を延ばすうえでも，医療費低減のためにも喫緊の課題である．そこで，本研究では，国際早期変形性膝関節症会議で提唱された早期膝OA診断基準をもとに，早期膝OAを抽出し，その軟骨の状態や膝運動の変化をより明確に評価することにより，現時点での早期膝OA診断基準をさらに検証し，また，補完することにより，膝OAの予防戦略を進展できる可能性が考えられる．