A person’s kneecap shape could help predict their risk of osteoarthritis, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.
Associate Professor Laura Wilson, the lead author, noted that the symptoms for women with knee osteoarthritis were often more severe than men. The reasons for this difference are not well understood. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints.
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The research team aimed to determine if the kneecap’s shape could be a factor.
Associate Professor Wilson mentioned that they focused on the kneecap because it significantly contributes to pain in knee osteoarthritis. She explained that the femur, a bone in the knee joint, has some features that have a different shape in women than in men. They hypothesized that the kneecap shape might feature similar sex differences.
The team included Jo Ménard, a former ANU Master’s student as well as researchers from ANU and The Canberra Hospital. They collected CT scans from a large group of healthy people and patients awaiting knee replacement surgery.
They used advanced image analysis techniques to create 3D models of hundreds of kneecap bones. They also visualized and measured the surfaces of the kneecaps in 3D by applying shape modelling methods.
While they did not find unique features in female kneecaps compared to male ones, they discovered that the kneecap surfaces varied more in individuals with osteoarthritis.
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Associate Professor Wilson said it was surprising that the different joint surfaces of the kneecap change shape in various ways with osteoarthritis and as the disease becomes more severe.
The team intends to broaden their study.
Associate Professor Wilson shared that their goal is to understand how these shape differences start in individuals with osteoarthritis early on. If this is the case, she mentioned that kneecap features might be included in disease prevention models, helping to identify people who are more at risk of knee osteoarthritis and could benefit from early intervention.
Devon Andre has been involved in the health and dietary supplement industry for a number of years. Devon has written extensively for Bel Marra Health. He has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor, and went on to complete a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Devon is keenly aware of trends and new developments in the area of health and wellness. He embraces an active lifestyle combining diet, exercise and healthy choices. By working to inform readers of the options available to them, he hopes to improve their health and quality of life.
