Trabecular bone structure and spatial differences in articular cartilage MR relaxation times in individuals with posterior horn medial meniscal tears

SummaryObjectiveTo analyze knee trabecular bone structure and spatial cartilage T1ρ and T2 relaxation times using 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in subjects with and without tears of posterior horn of the medial meniscus (PHMM).Design3-T MRI from 59 subjects (>18 years), were used to evaluate PHMM tears based on modified Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) scoring; and to calculate apparent trabecular bone-volume over total bone volume fraction (app. BV/TV), apparent trabecular number (app. Tb.N), apparent trabecular separation (app. Tb.Sp) and apparent trabecular thickness (app. Tb.Th) for overall femur/tibia and medial/lateral femur/tibia; and relaxation times for deep and superficial layers of articular cartilage. A repeated measures analysis using Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) was performed to compare trabecular bone and cartilage relaxation time parameters between people with (n = 35) and without (n = 24) PHMM tears, while adjusting for age and knee OA presence.ResultsSubjects with PHMM tears had lower app. BV/TV and app. Tb.N, and greater app. Tb.Th, and app. Tb.Sp. They also had higher T1ρ times in the deep cartilage layer for lateral tibia and medial femur and higher T2 relaxation times for the deep cartilage layer across all compartments.ConclusionsPHMM tears are associated with differences in underlying trabecular bone and deep layer of cartilage. Over-load of subchondral bone can lead to its sclerosis and stress shielding of trabecular bone leading to the resorptive changes observed in this study. The results underline the importance of interactions of trabecular bone and cartilage in the pathogenesis of knee OA in people with PHMM tears.