Table 2

Cross-sectional associations between MRI abnormalities and knee pain and dysfunction

Outcome variablesBone marrow lesionsCartilage defects*Meniscal tears/extrusionEffusion synovitis*Synovial fluid volumeSynovial membrane thickness
Multivariable†Multivariable‡Multivariable†Multivariable‡Multivariable†Multivariable‡Multivariable†Multivariable‡Multivariable†Multivariable‡Multivariable†Multivariable‡
β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)β (95% CI)
VAS1.54
(−5.87 to
8.95)		−0.81
(−6.73 to
5.12)		5.02
(−3.63 to
13.67)		4.01
(−1.72 to
9.75)		8.71
(−5.57 to
22.99)		1.35
(−7.32 to
10.01)		1.86
(–5.15 to
8.86)		−1.19
(−6.83 to
4.45)		1.79
(−0.87 to
4.46)		0.59
(−1.06 to
2.24)		1.36
(−17.29 to
20.02)		6.60
(−10.69 to
23.89)
KOOS total3.05
(−4.45 to
10.56)		−1.58
(−8.34 to
5.18)		5.26
(−4.13 to
14.64)		2.70
(−4.32 to
9.73)		14.26
(2.07 to
26.44)		3.16
(−7.40 to
13.72)		1.50
(–7.01 to 10.01)		−2.59
(–9.54 to
4.36)		2.98
(0.08 to
5.89)		1.52
(−0.75 to
3.80)		−11.16
(−28.55 to
6.23)		−6.39
(−20.70 to
7.91)
KOOS subscales            
 Symptoms1.14
(0.06 to
2.22)		0.65
(−0.29 to
1.58)		0.73
(−0.41 to
1.88)		0.30
(−0.61 to
1.20)		2.09
(0.32 to
3.87)		0.67
(−0.91 to
2.26)		0.14
(−1.09 to
1.36)		−0.41
(−1.36 to
0.53)		0.40
(0.01 to
0.78)		0.19
(−0.15 to
0.53)		−0.78
(−3.15 to
1.59)		−0.15
(−2.13 to
1.83)
 Stiffness0.20
(−0.33 to
0.73)		−0.04
(−0.49 to
0.41)		0.18
(−0.35 to
0.71)		0.06
(−0.45 to
0.56)		1.02
(0.21 to
1.84)		0.47
(−0.29 to
1.24)		−0.04
(−0.65 to
0.58)		−0.27
(−0.78 to
0.24)		0.13
(−0.05 to
0.30)		0.03
(−0.12 to
0.19)		−0.52
(−1.70 to
0.67)		−0.15
(−1.15 to
0.84)
 Pain0.0005
(−1.73 to
1.73)		−0.68
(−2.22 to
0.85)		0.67
(−1.04 to
2.37)		0.33
(−1.18 to
1.83)		1.91
(−0.81 to
4.63)		0.16
(−2.36 to
2.68)		−0.10
(−1.87 to
1.66)		−0.78
(−2.48 to
0.92)		0.46
(−0.08 to
1.01)		0.18
(−0.31 to
0.66)		−0.98
(−4.77 to
2.82)		0.11
(−3.04 to
3.27)
 Function−0.71
(−3.14 to
1.73)		−1.72
(−3.87 to
0.42)		1.24
(−1.10 to
3.57)		0.79
(−1.07 to
2.64)		2.70
(−1.06 to
6.46)		0.55
(−2.68 to
3.78)		0.19
(−2.43 to
2.81)		−0.45
(−2.61 to
1.72)		0.54
(−0.25 to
1.33)		0.17
(−0.50 to
0.84)		0.37
(−4.42 to
5.16)		1.49
(−2.46 to
5.45)
 Sport−0.47
(−1.68 to
0.74)		−1.32
(−2.49 to
−0.16)		−0.22
(−1.59 to
1.16)		−0.82
(−2.04 to
0.40)		1.09
(−1.06 to
3.24)		−0.82
(−2.90 to
1.27)		0.36
(−1.09 to
1.80)		−0.25
(−1.50 to
1.00)		0.47
(0.03 to
0.91)		0.30
(−0.06 to
0.65)		−2.43
(−5.92 to
1.06)		−1.85
(−4.59 to
0.89)
 Quality of life (QOL)0.30
(−0.68 to
1.27)		−0.33
(−1.20 to
0.54)		0.15
(−1.08 to
1.38)		−0.24
(−1.25 to
0.78)		1.30
(−0.15 to
2.75)		0.04
(−1.14 to
1.21)		0.47
(−1.003 to
1.94)		−0.09
(−1.39 to
1.20)		0.46
(0.16 to
0.76)		0.27
(0.04 to
0.50)		−1.22
(−4.56 to
2.13)		−0.07
(−2.79 to
2.66)

  • Pain and dysfunction measures are the outcomes in these analyses. β coefficient represents the VAS/KOOS score in those with an MRI abnormality present, or per 1-unit increase in synovial fluid volume (mL) and synovial membrane thickness (mm).

  • Boldface denotes statistically significant result.

  • *Defined as grade 2 or higher.

  • †Adjusted for age, weight, and height.

  • ‡Further adjusted for history of knee injury.

  • KOOS, knee injury and OA outcome score; VAS, visual analogue scale.