Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29886437›Full record

SynthesisBritish journal of sports medicine2019

Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis features on magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic uninjured adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Adam G Culvenor, Britt Elin Øiestad, Harvi F Hart, Joshua J Stefanik, Ali Guermazi, Kay M Crossley

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in British journal of sports medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 126 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
126citing papers in PubMed, 11 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05986513 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Investigating Brain Abnormalities in People With Knee Osteoarthritis Using MRI: a Nociplastic Pain Mechanism Based Assessment

TypeinterventionalSponsorToronto Rehabilitation InstituteRan2023 to 2025Enrolled66ConditionsChronic Pain, Central Sensitisation, Knee OsteoarthritisArmsCold Pressor Gel Test
NCT06576557 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Knowledge Translation and Exercise for Degenerative Meniscal Tears and Early Osteoarthritis: the KNEE-DEeP Feasibility Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of LimerickRan2024 to 2025Enrolled36ConditionsOsteoarthritis, Knee, Meniscus, DegenerationArmsKNEE-DEeP intervention- Knowledge translation and exercise for early degenerative knee pain
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

126 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  19. Microfracture for full-thickness chondral lesions of the knee in elite athletes leads to high return-to-play rates.Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · 2026
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66 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Adam G CulvenorInstitute of Anatomy, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg & Nuremberg, Salzburg, Austria.
Britt Elin ØiestadDepartment of Physiotherapy, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Harvi F HartLa Trobe Sports and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Joshua J StefanikDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Ali GuermaziDepartment of Radiology, Quantitative Imaging Centre, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Kay M CrossleyLa Trobe Sports and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.

Funding

Subproject Title: Clinical Research Education, Mentoring and Career Development CoreU54GM104941 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · PI Gregory E Hicks · 2013 to 2026
$60.5M
NIGMS NIH HHS U54 GM104941
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundKnee MRI is increasingly used to inform clinical management. Features associated with osteoarthritis are often present in asymptomatic uninjured knees; however, the estimated prevalence varies substantially between studies. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to provide summary estimates of the prevalence of MRI features of osteoarthritis in asymptomatic uninjured knees.

methodsWe searched six electronic databases for studies reporting MRI osteoarthritis feature prevalence (ie, cartilage defects, meniscal tears, bone marrow lesions and osteophytes) in asymptomatic uninjured knees. Summary estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis (and stratified by mean age: <40 vs ≥40 years). Meta-regression explored heterogeneity.

resultsWe included 63 studies (5397 knees of 4751 adults). The overall pooled prevalence of cartilage defects was 24% (95% CI 15% to 34%) and meniscal tears was 10% (7% to 13%), with significantly higher prevalence with age: cartilage defect <40 years 11% (6%to 17%) and ≥40 years 43% (29% to 57%); meniscal tear <40 years 4% (2% to 7%) and ≥40 years 19% (13% to 26%). The overall pooled estimate of bone marrow lesions and osteophytes was 18% (12% to 24%) and 25% (14% to 38%), respectively, with prevalence of osteophytes (but not bone marrow lesions) increasing with age. Significant associations were found between prevalence estimates and MRI sequences used, physical activity, radiographic osteoarthritis and risk of bias.

conclusionsSummary estimates of MRI osteoarthritis feature prevalence among asymptomatic uninjured knees were 4%-14% in adults aged <40 years to 19%-43% in adults ≥40 years. These imaging findings should be interpreted in the context of clinical presentations and considered in clinical decision-making.

Indexed as

Bone MarrowCartilage DiseasesHumansKnee InjuriesMagnetic Resonance ImagingMenisci, TibialOsteoarthritis, KneePrevalencecartilagekneemriosteoarthritis

Identifiers

PMID29886437
PMCPMC6837253

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.