Ultrasonographic Measurements of Femoral Cartilage Thickness in Women With Symptomatic Joint Hypermobility: A Controlled Study

Objective: The goal of this study was to measure femoral cartilage thickness in patients with symptomatic joint hypermobility (SJH) using ultrasound (US) imaging. Methods: This cross‐sectional study comprised 42 female patients diagnosed with SJH (Beighton score > 3) and 42 age‐matched healthy controls. Ultrasonographic measurements of bilateral femoral cartilage thickness were conducted in three areas: medial, intercondylar, and lateral, while the patients were in a supine position with their knees fully flexed. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale and the Turkish version of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score were used to evaluate pain and functional status in the SJH group. Results: The mean age was 28.0 ± 7.1 years in the study group and 28.5 ± 7.2 years in the control group. The right medial, left medial, left intercondylar, and left lateral femoral cartilage thicknesses of patients in the SJH group were significantly thinner than those of patients in the control group ( p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in femoral cartilage thickness, pain, and functional scores between patients with and without knee hypermobility within the SJH group ( p > 0.05). A negative correlation was observed between femoral cartilage thickness and age, which was identified as an independent predictor of femoral cartilage thickness in SJH ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Femoral cartilage thickness was significantly reduced on the right/left medial, left intercondylar, and left lateral sides in women with SJH compared to healthy subjects. Furthermore, age appears to be an important determinant of femoral cartilage thickness.