Fontanella Chiara Giulia, Belluzzi Elisa, Rossato Marco, Olivotto Eleonora, Trisolino Giovanni, Ruggieri Pietro, Rubini Alessandro, Porzionato Andrea, Natali Arturo, De Caro Raffaele, Vettor Roberto, Ramonda Roberta, Macchi Veronica, Favero Marta
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Bassi 58, I-35131 Padova, Italy; Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Via A. Gabelli 65, 35127 Padova, Italy.
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine - DIMED, University Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; Musculoskeletal Pathology and Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology, 35128 University of Padova, Italy.
Ann Anat. 2019 Jan;221:108-114. doi: 10.1016/j.aanat.2018.09.007. Epub 2018 Oct 4.
The aim of this study was to analyze the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric and morphometric characteristics of the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) and the suprapatellar fat pad (SFP) in normal controls, moderate and end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Forty-four MRI images of the three groups were collected: a) 17 patients undergoing meniscectomy with Outerbridge score 0 (control group); b) 15 patients undergoing meniscectomy with Outerbridge score 3/4 (moderate OA group); and c) 12 patients undergoing total knee replacement (end-stage OA group). Volume, depth, femoral and tibial arch lengths of IFP were quantified. The hypointense IFP signals were also scored. The SFP volume, oblique, antero-posterior and cranio-caudal lengths were determined. IFP and SFP characteristics were compared between groups. A decrease of IFP volume, depth, femoral, and tibial arch lengths in moderate and end-stage OA compared to controls were observed. A difference in IFP hypointense signal was found between groups. No differences were found in SFP characteristics between the groups. In controls and moderate OA patients, correlations were found among the different MRI characteristics of both IFP and SFP, while in the end-stage OA group correlations were found only in SFP. We evidenced differences of the IFP MRI morphometric characteristics between the groups analyzed, supporting an important role of IFP in OA pathology and progression. On the contrary, no differences were highlighted in SFP analysis suggesting that this fat pad is not clearly involved in OA, probably due to its peculiar localization and different function.
本研究旨在分析正常对照组、中度和终末期骨关节炎（OA）患者髌下脂肪垫（IFP）和髌上脂肪垫（SFP）的磁共振成像（MRI）体积和形态特征。收集了三组的44张MRI图像：a）17例半月板切除术患者，Outerbridge评分为0（对照组）；b）15例半月板切除术患者，Outerbridge评分为3/4（中度OA组）；c）12例全膝关节置换术患者（终末期OA组）。对IFP的体积、深度、股骨和胫骨弓长度进行了量化。还对IFP的低信号进行了评分。测定了SFP的体积、斜径、前后径和头尾径长度。比较了各组之间IFP和SFP的特征。观察到与对照组相比，中度和终末期OA患者的IFP体积、深度、股骨和胫骨弓长度减小。发现各组之间IFP低信号存在差异。各组之间SFP特征未发现差异。在对照组和中度OA患者中，IFP和SFP的不同MRI特征之间存在相关性，而在终末期OA组中，仅在SFP中发现相关性。我们证明了所分析的各组之间IFP MRI形态特征的差异，支持IFP在OA病理和进展中的重要作用。相反，SFP分析未突出差异，表明该脂肪垫可能因其特殊的定位和不同的功能而未明显参与OA。
