Knee meniscal extrusion in a largely non-osteoarthritic cohort: association with greater loss of cartilage volume

Table 3 Associations between baseline medial meniscal extrusion and baseline cartilage defect score and change in cartilage defect score over 2 years

Factor	Multivariable^a (OR [95% CI])	Multivariable^b (OR [95% CI])	Multivariable^c (OR [95% CI])
Baseline cartilage defect score
Medial tibial (0–4)	5.91 (2.53–13.77)*	3.41 (1.36–8.57)*	0.63 (0.17–2.32)
Medial femoral (0–4)	6.71 (2.65–16.99)*	4.62 (1.74–12.30)*	2.39 (0.71–8.02)
Medial tibiofemoral (0–8)	3.42 (1.92–6.10)*	2.45 (1.36–4.40)*	1.23 (0.59–2.53)
Lateral tibial (0–4)	1.52 (0.59–3.98)	0.97 (0.29–3.22)	0.20 (0.03–1.37)
Lateral femoral (0–4)	1.84 (0.78–4.34)	1.30 (0.45–3.74)	0.49 (0.12–2.05)
Lateral tibiofemoral (0–8)	1.33 (0.82–2.17)	1.13 (0.63–2.05)	0.55 (0.22–1.39)
Change in cartilage defect score
Medial tibial (0–4)	1.54 (0.57–4.13)	1.24 (0.45–3.44)	0.31 (0.07–1.42)
Medial femoral (0–4)	3.12 (1.50–6.49)*	2.59 (1.14–5.86)*	1.30 (0.51–3.35)
Medial tibiofemoral (0–8)	1.79 (1.06–3.03)*	1.56 (0.88–2.77)	0.85 (0.40–1.81)
Lateral tibial (0–4)	2.92 (1.25–6.79)*	2.64 (1.03–6.76)*	1.54 (0.48–4.95)
Lateral femoral (0–4)	2.30 (1.10–4.81)*	1.68 (0.74–3.79)	1.01 (0.39–2.67)
Lateral tibiofemoral (0–8)	2.01 (1.22–3.31)*	1.80 (1.05–3.08)*	1.21 (0.61–2.42)

The dependent variable was medial meniscal extrusion. ^aAdjusted for change in cartilage defect score if associations between baseline cartilage defect scores and baseline meniscal extrusion were determined, or baseline cartilage defect score if associations between changes in cartilage defect score and baseline meniscal extrusion were determined. ^bFurther adjusted for age, sex, offspring/control status, body mass index and past knee injury. ^cFurther adjusted for baseline tibial bone area and osteophytes. *Statistically significant associations. CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio.