To explore the interplay between (changes in) medial meniscus volume, meniscus extrusion and radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) development over 30 months follow-up (FU).
Data from the PRevention of knee Osteoarthritis in Overweight Females study were used. This cohort included 407 middle-aged women with a body mass index ≥27 kg/m
The structural equation modeling yielded a fair to good fit of the data. The direct effects of both medial meniscus volume and extrusion at baseline on incident OA were statistically significant (Estimate = 0.124, p = 0.029, and Estimate = 0.194, p < 0.001, respectively). Additional indirect effects on incident radiographic OA through delta meniscus volume or delta meniscus extrusion were not statistically significant.
Baseline medial meniscus volume and extrusion were associated to incidence of radiographic knee OA at FU in middle-aged overweight and obese women, while their changes were not involved in these effects. To prevent knee OA, interventions might need to target the onset of meniscal pathologies rather than their progression.