Knee and hip radiographic osteoarthritis predict total hip bone loss in older adults: a prospective study.

The relationship between osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis remains controversial. This study was designed to determine the association between hip and knee radiographic OA and change in total hip bone mineral density (BMD) over 2.6 years.

Natural history of knee cartilage defects and factors affecting change.

Background: Knee cartilage defects may play an important role in early osteoarthritis, but little is known about their natural history.

Methods: Knee cartilage defect score (range, 0-4), cartilage volume, and bone surface area were determined using T1-weighted fat-saturated magnetic resonance imaging in 325 subjects (mean age, 45 years) at baseline and 2 years later.

Results: Thirty-three percent of the subjects had a worsening (>or=1-point increase) and 37% of the subjects had an improvement (>or=1-point decrease) in cartilage defect score in any knee compartment during 2.

Association of prevalent and incident knee cartilage defects with loss of tibial and patellar cartilage: a longitudinal study.

Objective: To describe the association between prevalent and incident knee cartilage defects and loss of knee cartilage in male and female adults.

Methods: A convenience sample of 325 subjects (mean age 45 years; age range 26-61 years) was evaluated at baseline and approximately 2 years later. Knee cartilage volume, cartilage defect scores (0-4 scale), and joint surface area were determined using T1-weighted fat-suppression magnetic resonance imaging techniques.