OBJECTIVE To verify earlier data in cadavers that in female subjects with OA meniscal coverage is associated with lowered bone mineral density of the underlying subchondral bone in the proximal tibia by investigating the local bone mineral density (BMD) distribution within the epiphysis. METHODS BMD of the subchondral bone of the tibia was measured by QCT in 67 elderly females diagnosed with OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grades 2-3). The epiphysis was subdivided along the axis of the tibia into a subchondral-epiphyseal VOI covering the first 5-6 mm below the subchondral bone plate, a mid-epiphyseal VOI covering the adjacent 7-8 and a juxtaphyseal VOI of another 7-8 mm that bordered the growth plate. These VIOs were further divided into lateral and medial and then into anterior, mid and posterior sub-VOIs. Finally, all subVOIs were divided in one subVOI covered by the menisci (CM) and another not covered by the menisci (nCM). BMD ratios of these two subVOIs were compared. RESULTS In the subchondral epiphysis BMD was significantly lower (Medial: mean BMDdiff = 125 mg/cm3, p<0.001; Lateral: mean BMDdiff = 56 mg/cm3p < 0.001) in subVOIs covered by the meniscus compared to subVOIs not covered by the meniscus. The BMD difference was no longer significant in the mid epiphysis (Medial: mean BMDdiff = 10 mg/cm3, p>0.82; Lateral: mean BMDdiff = 7 mg/cm3, p=0.99) and was reversed in the juxtaphysis. With a few exceptions these BMD differences were independent of the lateral-medial and the anterior-mid-posterior position. BMD significantly (p<0.05) decreased with age independent on whether the location was covered or uncovered by the meniscus, however the BMD ratio of the corresponding nCM and CM subVOIs did not significantly (p>0.1) change with age. CONCLUSION In-vivo QCT measurements of the BMD distribution in the proximal tibia indicate a protective effect of the menisci in the subchondral bone close to the joint. This protective effect is age independent despite the overall age-related decrease of BMD.

中文翻译：

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半月板覆盖对女性受试者胫骨近端软骨下骨矿物质密度的影响——使用 QCT 的横断面体内研究

目的 通过调查骨骺内的局部骨密度 (BMD) 分布，验证早期尸体数据，即在女性受试者中，OA 半月板覆盖与胫骨近端下方软骨下骨的骨密度降低有关。方法 通过 QCT 测量 67 名诊断为 OA 的老年女性（Kellgren-Lawrence 等级 2-3）的胫骨软骨下骨 BMD。骨骺沿胫骨轴线细分为覆盖软骨下骨板下方前 5-6 毫米的软骨下骨骺 VOI、覆盖相邻 7-8 毫米的骨骺中 VOI 和另一个 7-8 毫米的骺端 VOI与生长板接壤。这些 VIO 进一步分为外侧和内侧，然后分为前、中和后亚 VOI。最后，所有 subVOI 被分为一个由半月板 (CM) 覆盖的 subVOI 和另一个未由半月板 (nCM) 覆盖的 subVOI。比较了这两个 subVOI 的 BMD 比率。结果在软骨下骨骺中，半月板覆盖的 subVOI 与未覆盖的 subVOI 相比，半月板覆盖的 subVOI 的 BMD 显着降低（内侧：平均 BMDdiff = 125 mg/cm3，p<0.001；横向：平均 BMDdiff = 56 mg/cm3p < 0.001） . 骨骺中部的 BMD 差异不再显着（内侧：平均 BMDdiff = 10 mg/cm3，p>0.82；外侧：平均 BMDdiff = 7 mg/cm3，p=0.99），并且在骨骺中逆转。除了少数例外，这些 BMD 差异与外侧-内侧和前-中-后位置无关。BMD 显着（p<0.05）随着年龄的增长而降低，与该位置是否被半月板覆盖或未覆盖无关，然而，相应的 nCM 和 CM subVOI 的 BMD 比率没有显着（p>0.1）随年龄变化。结论 胫骨近端 BMD 分布的体内 QCT 测量表明半月板在靠近关节的软骨下骨中具有保护作用。尽管 BMD 与年龄相关的整体下降，但这种保护作用与年龄无关。