Association between infrapatellar fat pad volume and knee structural changes in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Objective: The function of the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) remains uncertain. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional associations between IPFP volume and knee structures in patients with knee OA.

Methods: The study included 174 patients with clinical knee OA (mean age, 55.5 yrs). Fat-suppressed 3-D T1-weighted spoiled gradient recall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure the IPFP and cartilage volume. T2-weighted fast spin echo MRI was used to assess cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions (BML). Radiographic knee osteophytes and joint space narrowing (JSN) were assessed using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International atlas.

Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, greater IPFP volume was associated with greater tibial and patellar cartilage volume (all p < 0.05), and fewer cartilage defects at all sites (OR 0.88-0.91, all p < 0.05). IPFP volume was associated with presence of BML at lateral tibial and medial femoral sites (OR 0.88-0.91, all p < 0.05) and osteophytes at lateral tibiofemoral compartment (OR 0.88, p < 0.05). IPFP volume was not significantly associated with JSN.

Conclusion: Greater IPFP volume was associated with greater knee cartilage volume and fewer structural abnormalities, suggesting a protective role of IPFP size in knee OA.