Positive Effect of Weight Loss on Knee Articular Cartilage – a Three-year Follow-up Using Texture Analysis of T2 Relaxation Time Maps

Motivation: Weight loss has been shown to reduce cartilage degeneration and have a beneficial effect on knee symptoms. Goal(s): To examine the effect of weight loss in obese subjects on articular cartilage in the tibiofemoral joint using texture analysis of T2 relaxation time maps. Approach: Knees of 65 obese patients were imaged at 3T before and three years after bariatric surgery or conservative weight loss treatment. Changes in five texture features were measured in tibiofemoral joint. Results: Decreased BMI was associated with changes in texture feature values in tibia and femur, indicating that weight loss may have a beneficial impact on cartilage quality. Impact: The results support prior evidence for the benefits of weight loss for cartilage health and are important in the context of osteoarthritis prevention and treatment.