Infrapatellar fat pad area on knee MRI: does it correlate with the extent of knee osteoarthritis?

Abstract

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint is a common cause of chronic disability in older adults. During the past 10 years, the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) has emerged as a new player in the pathogenesis of knee OA. Its exact role in the pathogenesis of knee OA remains uncertain. While many studies focused on the detrimental effect of the chemical mediators released by IPFP and their role in the accentuation of the development of OA, only few studies elucidated the beneficial effect of IPFP maximal area as a local shock absorber protecting the adjacent articular structures from progressive damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between the IPFP maximal area and the prevalence of OA manifestations. We also studied the relation between the subcutaneous (SC) fat thicknesses on the medial aspect of the knee as a surrogate marker of body obesity and the IPFP area.

Results

A total of 216 knee scans for 188 adult patients (64 males and 124 females) who met the inclusion criteria were examined. They were between 45 and 66 years (mean 52.5 years). The mean IPFP area for all patients was 6.9 cm² (± 1.6 SD) (ranged from 4.5 to 11 cm²). After adjustment for potential confounders, there was a significant negative association between IPFP area and radiographic manifestations of OA (osteophites, joint space narrowing, and grade of OA) (P value < 0.001 for each), as well as MRI manifestations of OA (cartilage defects and subchondral bone marrow lesions) (P value < 0.001 and < 0.003, respectively). There was a negative but non-significant association between IPFP area and SC fat thickness.

Conclusion

In our study, we found supportive evidence that IPFP maximal area is associated with fewer osteoarthritic knee changes and less cartilage damage, suggesting that it plays a protective role against the development and progression of OA. Further large-scale clinical studies are awaited to confirm the obtained results. Based on our findings, it would be recommended to avoid IPFP resection during surgery in order to maintain its protective effect.

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of chronic disability in older adults commonly affecting the knees [1]. It encompasses a spectrum of structural joint changes including loss of articular cartilage, formation of osteophites, reduction in joint spaces, and subchondral bone involvement [2]. Although the pathogenesis of knee OA is not fully understood, both metabolic and mechanical factors play roles in the progression of this disease [1]. Age, female gender, and body weight are risk factors for knee OA [3].

Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP), an intra-capsular but extra-synovial structure [4], is situated in the knee below the patella, lying between the patellar tendon, femoral condyles, and tibial plateau [5]. It is structurally similar to the subcutaneous fat [6]. Recent studies suggested that IPFP being located so close to the cartilaginous and bony surfaces may reduce the impact loading and absorb forces generated within the knee joint, thus playing a protective role against initiation and progression of OA [6, 7].

Other studies highlight the role of the inflammatory mediators derived from IPFP and their effect on the progression of OA [8, 9] and considered IPFP as an active joint structure in the initiation and progression of knee OA [5], as inflammatory mediators derived from IPFP can influence the cartilage and synovium metabolism. To our knowledge, there have been few studies [7] about the association between IPFP and knee manifestations of OA, so the role of IPFP in knee OA remains largely unknown.

Structural joint abnormalities on X-ray such as joint space narrowing (JSN), marginal osteophites, and changes on MRI such as cartilage defects and subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are usually used to evaluate the presence/progression of knee OA [10].

The aim of our study was, therefore, to delineate the relation between knee joint manifestations of OA and IPFP area in older adults. We also studied the relation between SC fat thicknesses on the medial side of the knee joint as a surrogate marker of body obesity and IPFP area.

Methods

Study population

This retrospective observational study was conducted in the period from January 2019 to February 2020. It included 188 adult patients (64 {34%} males and 124 {66%} females), with a mean age {± SD} of 52.5 years {± 6.6} and an age range of 45–66 years. Patients were referred to the radiology department for MRI scanning of the knee with a variety of symptoms including knee pain, clicking, and local swelling. The inclusion criterion was adult patients older than 45 years. The exclusion criteria were patients with a history of recent trauma, recent open knee surgery, or arthroscopic intervention. A total of 216 MRI scans for 188 patients who met the inclusion criterion were finally included in the study (160 patients had one knee scanned, while 28 patients underwent bilateral knee examination). The study was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee on 22 March 2020, reference number of approval 32020-RAD-3. All patients included in this study gave written informed consents to participate in this research.

Anthropometric measurements

Patients’ weight was measured in kilograms, and height was measured in centimeters. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated according to the following formula: BMI = kg/m², where kg is a patients’ weight in kilograms and m² is their height in squared meters.

Radiographic knee assessment

All patients underwent plain X-ray examination of the knee joint in the standing antero-posterior position. Radiographs were carefully examined for the presence of osteophites and joint space narrowing (JSN). Patients were divided into three groups according to the severities of osteoarthritis (mild, moderate, and severe) using the Kellgren-Lawrence OA grading scale [11] as shown in Fig. 1 and Table 1. Both entities (osteophites and JSN) were further scored from 0 to 3 (0 = normal, while 3 = most severe) according to the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) Atlas [12].

Fig. 1

The Kellgren- Lawrence radiographic osteoarthritis grading scale. a Mild osteoarthritis with small osteophites (arrows) and possible medial joint space narrowing (bold arrow). b Severe osteoarthritis with large osteophites (white arrow), marked joint space narrowing (black arrow), and subchondral sclerosis (astride)

Table 1 The Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic osteoarthritis grading scale

Magnetic resonance imaging assessment

Examination protocol

MRI scans were performed using a 1.5-T unit (TOSHIBA, Excelart Vantage). Patients were examined in the supine position feet first, using a dedicated extremity coil. Before MR examination, patients were asked to remove any metallic objects around the scan area. None of the patients received intravenous contrast.

The standard MRI protocol of the knee

The following are the standard MRI protocol of the knee: sagittal T1WI (TR = 605 m s, TE = 14 m s, FOV = 18 cm, slice T = 3 mm, matrix = 230 × 256 pixels), sagittal T2WI (TR = 2900 m s, TE = 31 m s, FOV = 18 cm, slice T = 3 mm, matrix = 384 × 512 pixels), sagittal T2WI with fat saturation (TR = 3600 m s, TE = 31 m s, FOV = 20 cm, slice T = 3 mm, matrix = 384 × 512 pixels), sagittal PD (TR = 8100 m s, TE = 102 m s, FOV = 20 cm, slice T = 3 mm, matrix = 404 × 512 pixels), axial T2WI (TR = 2900 m s, TE = 100 m s, FOV = 20 cm, slice T = 3.5 mm, matrix = 520 × 640 pixels), and coronal STIR (TR = 3700 m s, TE = 41 m s, TI = 160 m s, FOV = 20 cm, slice T = 4 mm, matrix = 410 × 512 pixels).

Images were transferred by a computer network to the workstation (Aze Virtual Place FujinRaijin 310) on which images were carefully reviewed. A trained radiologist (with more than 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal radiology) examined the scans. IPFP area was measured on fat-saturated mid-sagittal T2WI FSE by drawing a manual trace around the borders of IPFP as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Measurement of the infrapatellar fat pad area on MRI. a Sagittal T2WI with fat saturation showing manual tracing of the boundaries of the IPFP (the maximum area represents the infrapatellar fat pad area in square centimeter)

Cartilage defects were assessed in the medial and lateral compartments of the knee joint as well as the patellofemoral articulation using axial and sagittal T2-weighted fast spin-echo images. They were graded on a 0 to 4 scale as follows: grade 0 = normal cartilage, grade 1 = focal blistering and intra-cartilaginous high-signal area with an intact surface, grade 2 = irregularities on the surface or bottom and loss of < 50% of thickness; grade 3 = deep ulceration with loss of > 50% of thickness, and grade 4 = full-thickness chondral defect with denuding of subchondral bone.

Abnormal subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs) were defined as areas of increased signal intensity in the subarticular regions (in the tibial and femoral condyles and posterior patellar surface). They were assessed in coronal STIR sequence and given a score from 0 to 3 (0 = normal and 3 = most severe).

Figures 3 and 4 show mild and advanced OA on MRI with the corresponding IPFP areas.

Fig. 3

Mild osteoarthritis on MRI. a Coronal STIR image showing early OA with small marginal osteophite (short arrow) and small subchondral BML (long arrow). b Sagittal T2WI with fat saturation showing the corresponding IPFP area = 10 cm² (astride = knee effusion)

Fig. 4

Advanced osteoarthritis on MRI. a Sagittal STIR image showing advanced osteoarthritic changes with bulky marginal osteophites (short arrows), subchondral BML (long arrow), and intra-articular loose body (bold arrow). b Sagittal T2WI with fat saturation showing patellar polar spurs (black arrowheads), corresponding IPFP area = 5.17 cm²

SC thickness was measured at the medial aspect of the knee joint and used as a surrogate of body obesity. It was measured on axial T2WI starting from the skin to the bony cortex of the postero-medial aspect of the medial femoral condyle as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5

Measurement of the subcutaneous fat thickness. Axial T2WI of the knee showing subcutaneous fat measurement on the medial aspect of the knee joint behind the medial femoral condyle. Osteophite (red arrow), backer cyst (bold arrow)

Statistical analysis

The results were analyzed with SPSS statistical package version 23 (SPSS Inc. Released 2015; IBM SPSS statistics for Windows, version 23.0, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp).

Data was expressed in number (No.), percentage (%), mean (x̅), and standard deviation (SD). Student’s t test and Mann-Whitney’s test were used for comparison of quantitative variables between two groups of normally and not normally distributed data, respectively. The ANOVA test was used for comparison of quantitative variables between more than two groups of normally distributed data with the Tukey test as a post hoc test while the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison of quantitative variables between more than two groups of not normally distributed data with Tamhane’s test as a post hoc test. Pearson correlation was used to show the correlation between two continuous normally distributed variables while Spearman correlation was used for not normally distributed ones. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were performed to ascertain the effects of possible determinants on the IPFP area. A two-sided P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

This study included 216 knee examinations for 188 adult patients (64 {34%} males and 124 {66%} females), with a mean age {± SD} of 52.5 years {± 6.6}. Their ages ranged from 45 to 66 years. Patients’ demographics and characteristics are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2 Patients’ characteristics for the 216 scans included in the study

The mean IPFP area for all patients was 6.9 cm² (+ 1.6 SD), with a range from 4.5 to 11 cm² (the mean IPFP areas for mild, moderate, and severe OA were 7.9 cm², 5.9 cm², and 5.3 cm², respectively). There was a negative correlation between the IPFP area and the age of the patients (P value < 0.001) (r = − 0.401).

BMI of the patients ranged from 22 to 33 with a mean of 27 (± 2.68 SD). BMI was significantly associated with gender (P value < 0.001). There was a significant association between the BMI and the IPFP area (P value < 0.001). Higher BMI negatively correlated with the IPFP areas (P value = 0.018) (r = − 0.161) (Tables 3 and 4).

Table 3 Association between IPFP area and different manifestations of osteoarthritis, gender, and BMI

Table 4 Correlation between the IPFP area and both patient and disease characteristics

Post hoc analysis revealed that the mean IPFP area varied significantly among patients with different grades of BMI. Patients with normal BMI had a significantly larger IPPF area than overweight or obese patients (P = 0.005 and < 0.001 respectively). Also, overweight patients had a significantly larger mean IPPF area than obese patients (P = 0.01) (Table 3).

There was no significant association between the gender and the IPFP area (P value = 0.2) (Table 3).

Table 3 also describes the relation between the radiographic OA grade, JSN, osteophites, and IPFP area. In univariate analyses, the IPFP area was significantly and negatively associated with the grade of radiographic OA (P value < 0.001), JSN (P value < 0.001), and the presence of osteophites (P value < 0.001). Larger IPFP areas were significantly associated with reduced grades of OA, lesser degree of JSN, and less osteophite formation. In multivariate analyses (after adjustment for the potential confounders), the negative correlation between IPFP area and OA grade remained significant (P value < 0.001). However, the correlation between the IPFP area and the presence of osteophites and JSN was consistent but did not reach significance (Table 5).

Table 5 Univariate vs multivariate regression model of the IPFP area and patient demographics as well as individual manifestations of OA

Post hoc analysis revealed that increasing grades of OA was associated with a significant reduction in the IPPF area. Patients with a mild degree had a significantly larger IPPF area than patients with moderate or severe grades (P < 0.001 for both); also, patients with moderate grade had a larger IPPF area than patients with severe grade (P = 0.002) (Table 3).

Table 4 describes the correlation between the IPFP area and patients’ age, BMI, and individual manifestations of OA.

IPFP area was negatively and significantly associated with the presence of cartilage defects (r = − 0.515, CI = 95%) (P value < 0.001) (Table 4). In the univariate analysis, larger IPFP areas correlated with fewer cartilage defects in medial and lateral joint spaces as well as the patello-femoral articulation. In the multivariate analysis (after adjustment for radiographic OA), the correlation between the IPFP area and the presence of cartilage defects was consistent but did not reach significance (P = 0.184) (Table 5).

There was a significant negative association between the IPFP area and the presence of subchondral BMLs (r = − 0.380, CI = 95%) (P value < 0.003) (Table 4). In the univariate analysis, larger IPFP areas correlated with less BMLs. In the multivariate analysis (after adjustment for radiographic OA), the correlation between the IPFP area and the presence of BMLs was consistent but did not reach significance (P = 0.89) (Table 5).

Regarding BMLs and cartilage defects, post hoc analysis showed that increasing severity grades of either factor was associated with a significant reduction of IPFP area (P < 0.001 and 0.003 respectively). Patients without BMLs had significantly larger IPPF areas than grade 1, 2, or 3 (P < 0.001 for each), patients with grade 1 had significantly larger IPPF areas than grade 2 or 3 (P < 0.001 for both), and finally, grade 2 had significantly larger IPFP areas than grade 3 (P < 0.001). Regarding cartilage defects, patients without cartilage defects (grade 0) or with grade 1 defect had significantly larger IPPF areas than grade 2, 3, or 4 (P < 0.001 for each), and finally, patients with grade 2 had significantly larger IPPF areas than patients with grade 4 (P < 0.001) (Table 3).

The SC thickness on the medial side of the knee joint was measured in the axial plane and used as a surrogate of body obesity.

There was a negative correlation between the SC fat thickness and the IPFP area. In the univariate analysis, smaller IPFP areas significantly and negatively correlated with SC fat thickness (P value < 0.003, CI = 95%) (r = − 0.201) (Table 4). In the multivariate analysis (after adjustment for the patients’ age and gender), the negative correlation between the IPFP area and the SC fat thickness was consistent but did not reach significance (P = 0.14).

Discussion

The role of IPFP in the pathogenesis of knee OA remains uncertain. Many authors suggest that IPFP maximal area appears to play a protective role against the development and progression of knee OA and cartilage damage owing to its intra-capsular location being close to the femoral condyles and tibial plateau [13]. Others assume that IPFP enlargement may result in metabolic changes characterized by chronic, low-level inflammation due to increased local levels of adipose-derived cytokines, or “adipokines,” making those patients more prone to symptomatic OA [7]. This study aimed to delineate the relation between the IPFP area and the radiological manifestations of knee OA. We also studied the relation between the SC fat thickness, as a surrogate of body obesity, and IPFP area.

In the current study, we retrospectively reviewed 216 knee examinations for 188 adult patients (64 {34%} males and 124 {66%} females), with a mean age {+ SD} of 52.5 years {± 6.6 SD} (ranging from 45 to 66 years). The mean IPFP area for all patients was 6.9 cm² {± 1.6 SD}, with a range from 4.5 to 11 cm². This was consistent with the study results obtained by Han et al. They analyzed 977 knee MRI scans with a mean IPFP area = 7.59 cm² (SD 1.18, range 4.56 to 12.14) [14].

There was a negative correlation between the IPFP area and the age of the patients (P value < 0.001, r = − 0.401). On the contrary to our findings, Han et al. reported a significant positive association between IPFP volume and age (P < 0.05, CI 95%, r 0.35) [14].

In our study, there was a significant association between the BMI and the IPFP area (P value < 0.001). Higher BMI negatively correlated with the IPFP areas (r = − 0.161, P value = 0.018). Similarly, Masaki et al. reported statistically significant negative correlation between IPFP volume and BMI (r = − 0.29; P < 0.001) [15]. While other results reported by Han et al. found no significant association between IPFP area and BMI [14]. Recent studies from the USA and the Netherlands also reported no association between IPFP volume and BMI [7].

There was no significant association between the gender and the IPFP area (P value = 0.2). This was quite different from the results reported by Duran et al. [16]. They reported a significant difference in the mean IPFP area between males and females (17.8 ± 4.5 SD for males vs 13.4 ± 3.7 SD for females) (P value < 0.05). Han et al. reported similar findings. They stated that increased IPFP area was negatively associated with the female gender [14]. The difference in results may be attributed to the smaller sample size in our study.

In our study, we found consistent evidence that IPFP maximal area is beneficially associated with reduced radiological manifestations of knee OA. It appears to play a protective role against the development of OA and cartilage breakdown as it mechanically functions as a local shock absorber by reducing the axial forces on the knee joint.

In our study, there was a significant negative correlation between radiographic manifestations of OA (osteophites, JSN, and grade of OA) and IPFP area (P value < 0.001). In the multivariate analyses, the negative correlation between IPFP area and OA grade remained significant (P value < 0.001), yet the correlation between the IPFP area and the presence of osteophites and JSN was consistent but did not reach significance. Our results were in agreement with the results obtained by Han et al. [14]. They studied 977 patients with different grades of knee OA and reported that maximal IPFP area was significantly and negatively associated with the prevalence of radiographic OA, presence of osteophites, and JSN in both the medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments providing evidence in support of the protective effect of local joint fat on knee joint structures [14].

Cai et al. [13] also reported a significant negative correlation between the IPFP area and the presence of osteophites at the medial and lateral tibio-femoral compartments (P < 0.05), but they found no significant association between IPFP area and JSN.

In contrast to our results, Chuckpaiwong et al. [7] reported that there was no significant difference in IPFP volume between OA patients and the control group. The difference may be attributed to the small sample size in their study (15 patients and 15 controls).

The current study revealed that IPFP area was negatively and significantly associated with the presence of cartilage defects (P value < 0.001). Our results came in agreement with the results recorded by Pan et al. [17]. They reported a significant association between IPFP area and reduced risks of development of medial joint space cartilage defects (relative risk 0.59, P < 0.05).

Han et al. [14] found that a larger IPFP area was significantly associated with decreased medial and lateral tibial plateau cartilage defects after adjustment for radiographic OA (P < 0.01) which was in concordance with our results. This further supports that IPFP is protective against knee structural changes in OA.

We found that subchondral BMLs were significantly and negatively associated with IPFP area (r = − 0.380, CI = 95%) (P value < 0.003). This was consistent with the results reported by Han et al. [14]. They found that there was a significant negative association between IPFP area and total BML scores for all joint compartments after adjustment for co-variants.

In the present study, there was a weak negative correlation between the SC fat thickness and the IPFP area (P value < 0.01, CI = 95%) (r = − 0.201). However, in the multivarite analysis, the negative correlation was consistent but did not reach significance (P = 0.14). Few studies reported on the relation between IPFP area and SC fat thickness. Our results came in agreement with the study carried out by Teichtahl et al. [18]. They stated that the lack of significant association between measures of body adiposity (SC fat, trunk fat) and the size of the IPFP might suggest that the IPFP size is not simply a marker of systemic obesity. Similarly, Masaki et al. [15] stated that IPFP is maintained even in starved conditions where SC fat diminishes.

Han et al. [14] also reported similar findings. They found that IPFP area was not associated with systematic fat mass. They also stated that systemic metabolic changes do not necessarily affect the size of IPFP.

The protective effect of the maximal IPFP area on the knee joint structures can be explained by its intra-capsular location and close proximity to the articular bony surfaces. Its flexible and displaceable nature helps to act as a local shock absorber minimizing the mechanical stress over the adjacent knee joint structures. It is also suggested that chemical mediators conditioned by IPFP inhibit catabolic processes in cartilage [19].

Based on our results, we concluded that the maximal IPFP area plays a protective rather than harmful role against the initiation or progression of OA. During open and arthroscopic knee surgery, the IPFP is usually partially or totally resected to provide a clear visualization of internal joint structures [20]. It would be recommended to spare IPFP during surgery to maintain its protective effect.

Limitations

Our study was limited by the lack of software used for 3-dimensional measurement of IPFP volume. Instead, we depended on measuring the IPFP maximal area on two dimensional mid-sagittal T2WI MRI by manually tracing the boundaries of the IPFP. We also depended only on measuring the IPFP area and did not include other imaging features about the quality of IPFP like edema, fibrosis, and signal intensity changes that might be influenced by OA.

Conclusion

In our study, we found supportive evidence that IPFP maximal area is associated with fewer osteoarthritic knee changes and less cartilage damage, suggesting that it plays a protective role against the development and progression of OA. Further large-scale clinical studies are awaited to confirm the obtained results.

Recommendations

Based on our findings, it would be recommended to avoid IPFP resection during surgery in order to maintain its protective role. Regarding the association between the IPFP area and the presence and development of knee OA, we can conclude the value of measuring the IPFP area in early detection of knee OA in asymptomatic patients, which helps early management and prevention of OA disease progression, especially in patients vulnerable to early OA changes as in athletes and those with a family history of early OA. We also advise to perform the chemical synovectomy (by intra-articular injection of methotrexate) instead of surgical synovectomy in patients with chronic arthritis to preserve the IPFP.