Infrapatellar fat pad volume and Hoffa-synovitis after ACL reconstruction: Association with early osteoarthritis features and pain over 5 years.

Abstract

Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) morphology and Hoffa-synovitis may be relevant to the development and progression of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA). We aimed to compare IPFP volume and Hoffa-synovitis in participants with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and uninjured controls, and to determine their association with prevalent and worsening early knee OA features and pain in participants post-ACLR. We assessed IPFP volume and Hoffa-synovitis from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 111 participants 1-year post-ACLR and 20 uninjured controls. Patellofemoral and tibiofemoral cartilage and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) were assessed from MRIs at 1 and 5 years post-ACLR, and worsening defined as any longitudinal increase in lesion size/severity. IPFP volume and Hoffa-synovitis prevalence were compared between groups with analysis of covariance and χ 2 tests, respectively. Generalized linear models assessed the relation of IPFP volume and Hoffa-synovitis to prevalent and worsening features of OA and knee pain (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Pain Subscale, Anterior Knee Pain Scale). No significant between-group differences were observed in IPFP volume (ACLR 34.39 ± 7.29cm3 , Control 34.27 ± 7.56cm3 ) and Hoffa-synovitis (ACLR 61%, Control 80%). Greater IPFP volume at 1-year post-ACLR was associated with greater odds of patellofemoral BMLs at 1-year (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence intervals]: 1.104 [1.016, 1.200]) and worsening tibiofemoral cartilage lesions at 5-year post-ACLR (OR: 1.234 [1.026, 1.483]). Hoffa-synovitis at 1-year post-ACLR was associated with greater odds of worsening patellofemoral BMLs at 5-year post-ACLR (OR: 7.465 [1.291, 43.169]). In conclusion, IPFP volume and Hoffa-synovitis prevalence are similar between individuals 1-year post-ACLR and controls. Greater IPFP volume and Hoffa-synovitis appear to be associated with the presence and worsening of some early OA features in those post-ACLR, but not pain.

• Authors: Harvi F Hart, Adam G Culvenor, Brooke E Patterson, Ankit Doshi, Ashish Vora, Ali Guermazi, Trevor B Birmingham, Kay M Crossley
• Journal: Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society (J Orthop Res) Vol. 40 Issue 1 Pg. 260-267 (01 2022) ISSN: 1554-527X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33458849 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2021 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Humans
• Knee Joint (pathology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Osteoarthritis, Knee (diagnostic imaging, etiology, surgery)
• Pain (etiology)
• Synovitis (diagnostic imaging, etiology, pathology)