Do rates of femorotibial cartilage loss in Kellgren-Lawrence 2 and 3 kneesdiffer between those with mild-moderate vs. severe patellofemoralstructural damage?

MRI screening to rule out exclusionary findings and to define a possible predominant structural morphotype of knee OA prior to enrolment is increasingly applied in clinical trials. Such screening efforts focus on the tibiofemoral joint. To date, it has been unknown whether screening for patellofemoral pathology is needed and whether patellofemoral pathology affects rates of cartilage loss in the tibiofemoral joint.

With this paper published today in Osteoarthritis & Cartilage, the BICL team was able to show that patellofemoral structural damage does not affect rates of cartilage loss in the tibiofemoral joint over 24 months. Our work focused on a clinical-trial–relevant sample, i.e., participants with KL grades 2 and 3 in the FNIH and APPROACH cohorts.

In the context of clinical trials, screening for patellofemoral joint (PFJ) damage is likely not needed. Thanks to Wolfgang Wirth and the Chondrometrics team for a great collaboration!