Clinical value of biomechanics and magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of knee osteoarthritis

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical value of biomechanics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Sixty patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis from June 2020 to November 2023 in our hospital were retrospectively selected as the study group. Fifty healthy subjects who underwent annual health checkups in our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. A three-dimensional finite element model was constructed based on knee MRI images. The MRI parameters and biomechanical parameters of knee joints were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) of patients in the study group was (72.29 ± 16.92), significantly higher than that of (44.68 ± 16.95) in the control group. The contact area between the medial femoral cartilage and medial meniscus, the maximal von Mises stress on the medial meniscus, and the maximal von Mises stress on the femoral cartilage were significantly greater in the study group than in the control group. The area under the curves of MRI indicators and biomechanical indicators (contact area between the medial femoral cartilage and medial meniscus, the maximal von Mises stress on the medial meniscus, and the maximal von Mises stress on the femoral cartilage) for knee osteoarthritis were 0.8694, 0.7874, 0.6282, and 0.7650, respectively. Conclusion: WORMS and biomechanical parameters (medial femoral-meniscal contact area and peak stress) demonstrate good diagnostic value in knee osteoarthritis, with the maximal von Mises stress on the medial meniscus showing discriminatory power for disease severity. The combination of MRI and biomechanical analysis facilitates the assessment of knee osteoarthritis from both structural and functional perspectives, providing objective evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.