A pilot study of the reproducibility and validity of measuring knee subchondral bone density in the tibia

摘要: Summary Objective To describe the reproducibility and validity of six different measurement techniques for knee subchondral bone mineral density (sBMD). Methods A consecutive sample 50 male female participants from a population-based longitudinal study had sBMD assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans. Anthropometric, pain, cartilage measures by magnetic resonance imaging radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) were assessed. The methods defined as: (1) midpoint one intercondylar spine, across tibial surface descending 10mm; two spines (2) top spine 20mm, (3) 10–20mm beneath spine; descending, (4) 10mm, (5) 15mm, (6) 20mm. Results All excellent (intra-class correlation coefficient 0.98–1.00). was higher in males (methods 2–4) those with medial osteophytes 1, 3 4). Medial defects overall correlated Method 2, which includes size. Measuring 4 produced greatest number associations joint features OA. Conclusions These preliminary results need confirmation larger samples but suggest that can be accurately measured plays role best concurrent validity; however, method 2 adds additional information on size, suggesting are necessary clinical studies.