Association of knee injuries with accelerated knee osteoarthritis progression: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate whether a recent knee injury was associated with accelerated knee osteoarthritis (OA) progression.


METHODS
In the Osteoarthritis Initiative, we studied participants free of knee OA on their baseline radiographs (Kellgren/Lawrence [K/L] <2). We compared 3 groups as follows: 1) individuals with accelerated progression of knee OA: defined as having at least 1 knee that progressed to end-stage knee OA (K/L grade 3 or 4) within 48 months, 2) common knee OA progression: at least 1 knee increased in radiographic scoring within 48 months (excluding those defined as accelerated knee OA), and 3) no knee OA: no change in K/L grade in either knee. At baseline, participants were asked if their knees had ever been injured, and at each annual visit they were asked about injuries during the prior 12 months. We used multinomial logistic regressions to determine whether a new knee injury was associated with the outcome of accelerated knee OA or common knee OA progression, after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, static knee malalignment, and systolic blood pressure.


RESULTS
A knee injury during the total observation period was associated with accelerated knee OA progression (n = 54; odds ratio [OR] 3.14) but not common knee OA progression (n = 187; OR 1.08). Furthermore, a more recent knee injury (within a year of the outcome) was associated with accelerated (OR 8.46) and common knee OA progression (OR 3.12).


CONCLUSIONS
Recent knee injuries are associated with accelerated knee OA. Most concerning is that certain injuries may be associated with a rapid cascade toward joint failure in less than 1 year.
Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jeffrey B
JB
Driban
Charles B
CB
Eaton
Grace H
GH
Lo
Robert J
RJ
Ward
Bing
B
Lu
Timothy E
TE
McAlindon
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors