Ultrasonographic Assessment of Obesity-Induced Alterations in Knee Cartilage Thickness

Abstract

Background: Obesity is an established risk factor for knee osteoarthritis through mechanical loading and metabolic-inflammatory pathways. Ultrasonography provides a non-invasive method for measuring accessible femoral articular cartilage. Objective: To assess knee cartilage thickness ultrasonographically and examine its relationship with body mass index (BMI). Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 89 adults aged 18–65 years. Knee cartilage was evaluated using a GE Voluson 730 Expert ultrasound system with a 6–12-MHz linear probe. Femoral cartilage measurements were obtained at medial, lateral, and intercondylar regions. BMI-related differences were examined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and continuous relationships with BMI were assessed using Pearson correlation. Results: Women comprised 64/89 participants (71.9%). Mean cartilage thickness ranged from 1.57±0.48 mm at the right lateral femoral condyle to 1.88±1.38 mm at the left intercondylar area. No measured site differed significantly across BMI categories: left medial condyle p=.085, left lateral p=.185, left intercondylar p=.849, right medial p=.373, and right lateral p=.065. Continuous BMI nevertheless showed a small inverse association with right lateral femoral-condyle thickness (r=−0.265, p=.012; 95% CI −0.449 to −0.060). Conclusion: Generalized BMI-related cartilage thinning was not demonstrated. A limited inverse association was identified between BMI and right lateral femoral cartilage thickness, supporting further investigation in larger, standardized longitudinal studies.