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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 3/2012

01-03-2012 | Magnetic Resonance

Obesity-related juvenile form of cartilage lesions: a new affliction in the knees of morbidly obese children and adolescents

Authors: Harald K. Widhalm, Stefan Marlovits, Goetz H. Welsch, Albert Dirisamer, Andreas Neuhold, Martijn van Griensven, Rudolf Seemann, Vilmos Vécsei, Kurt Widhalm

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 3/2012

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Abstract

Objectives

Overweight and obesity are afflictions that lead to an increased risk of health problems including joint problems. The aim of the study was to assess the condition of articular cartilage in obese adolescent patients suffering from knee pain.

Methods

MRI of 24 knees of 20 morbidly obese patients, mean age 14.2 years, was performed in an open 1.0 Tesla MR system, where the cartilage, the quality and structure of the menisci, and the presence or absence of surrounding changes was examined.

Results

In all patients a cartilage lesion in at least one region of the knee could be detected. Retropatellar cartilage lesions have been found in 19 knees. Ten cartilage lesions grade I, and four lesions grade II have been described in the lateral compartment of the knee, whereas the medial compartment showed in eight cases a grade I, in 13 cases a grade II and in two cases a grade III cartilage lesion. Meniscal changes were assessed in most patients.

Conclusion

Morbidly obese children and adolescents show major abnormalities in the articular cartilage of the knee. Whether obesity alone is the causal factor for the development of the pattern of these changes, remains to be seen.

Key Points

• Morbidly obese children and adolescents often suffer from knee pain
• Prospective study showed cartilage and meniscal lesions in morbidly obese adolescents
• MRI is an adequate tool for assessing cartilage lesions even in morbidly obese patients
• It is unclear whether cartilage abnormalities are mainly due to mechanical overload
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Metadata
Title
Obesity-related juvenile form of cartilage lesions: a new affliction in the knees of morbidly obese children and adolescents
Authors
Harald K. Widhalm
Stefan Marlovits
Goetz H. Welsch
Albert Dirisamer
Andreas Neuhold
Martijn van Griensven
Rudolf Seemann
Vilmos Vécsei
Kurt Widhalm
Publication date
01-03-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 3/2012
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2281-5

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