The value of magnetic resonance imaging osteoarthritis knee score in cartilage damage and prognosis of knee osteoarthritis

The aim of this study was to investigate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) osteoarthritis knee score in the assessment of cartilage damage and its prognosis in knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Fifty-two patients with cartilage damage in KOA were selected as the case group, while 50 subjects undergoing health checkups during the same period were selected as the control group. All subjects underwent MRI scans, and patients in the case group received arthroscopy. The severity and prognosis of KOA were assessed by comparing the T2 values of different cartilage regions between the 2 groups using the MRI osteoarthritis knee score. In addition, the preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale scores of the case group were compared, and the correlation between the T2 values and the MIR osteoarthritis knee score was analyzed. Preoperative T2 values in all cartilage regions of the case group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < .05), with no statistical difference postoperatively compared to the control group (P > .05). The preoperative MRI osteoarthritis knee score of the case group was notably higher than that of the control group, and although the postoperative score decreased, it remained higher than the control group (P < .05). Visual analogue scale scores significantly improved at all postoperative follow-up points (P < .05). T2 values were positively correlated with MRI scores (P < .05). MRI osteoarthritis knee score is positively correlated with the T2 value, which may effectively reflect the cartilage damage and prognosis in KOA, with significant clinical application value.