Medial Meniscal Extrusion and Inhomogeneous Echo are Independent Risk Factors for Knee Osteoarthritis in Non-Load-Bearing Conditions: A Retrospective Study Based on Propensity Score Matching

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of meniscus echo homogeneity and medial meniscus extrusion (MME) in non-load -bearing condition for the occurrence and development of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: One hundred fourteen patients with KOA were selected as the study group from 2018 to 2019. Two hundred four healthy volunteers were included as the control group during the same period. The covariates between the two groups were balanced by a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the independent risk factors, and the value of the auxiliary diagnosis was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: After PSM, MME was higher in the study group than in the control group, and the peripheral joint space was smaller in the study group than in the control group; the differences were statistically significant (both, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that MME, and inhomogeneous echo of the medial meniscus were independent risk factors of KOA. According to the ROC curve, 2.8 mm was the optimal cutoff value for MME in the auxiliary diagnosis of KOA. Conclusion: Medial meniscal extrusion and uneven echo are independent risk factors for knee osteoarthritis.