Medición ecográfica del grosor del cartílago femoral en rodilla de jóvenes universitarios sanos / Ultrasound measurement of femoral cartilage thickness in the knee of healthy young university students

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: El cartílago articular (CA) siempre está afectado en cualquier articulación con artrosis (A). La ecografía puede ser una herramienta útil en la monitorización de los cambios en el CA. El propósito del presente estudio es medir ecográficamente el grosor del CA en el fémur distal en jóvenes estudiantes y determinar su relación con el índice de masa corporal (IMC), masa muscular, grasa corporal y la práctica deportiva. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal observacional con voluntarios sanos, entre 15 y 25 años. Se recogieron datos antropométricos y se midió el grosor del cartílago femoral de la rodilla en cinco puntos. Además, se midió en un subgrupo el porcentaje de músculo y de grasa corporal. RESULTADOS: En el estudio se incluyeron 100 sujetos. La edad promedio fue de 20 años (± 2,5). El IMC promedio fue 23 kg/m2 (± 3,1). El CA tuvo un mayor grosor en los hombres y en los deportistas vs. las mujeres y los sedentarios, con diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Al comparar el IMC con el grosor del CA no se encontró ninguna relación significativa; sin embargo, sólo dos participantes tenían IMC > 30. CONCLUSIONES: El grosor del cartílago tiene una relación directamente proporcional con el porcentaje de músculo, e inversamente proporcional con el porcentaje de grasa. El IMC no es un buen parámetro al evaluar el comportamiento dinámico del cartílago en jóvenes no obesos

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Articular cartilage (AC) is always affected in any joint with osteoarthritis. Ultrasound can be a useful tool in monitoring changes in the AC. The purpose of the present study is to ultrasound measure the thickness of the AC in the distal femur in young students and determine its relationship with body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, body fat and sports practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with healthy volunteers, between 15 and 25 years old. Anthropometric data were collected and the thickness of the femoral cartilage of the knee was measured at 5 points. In addition, the percentage of muscle and body fat was measured in a subgroup. RESULTS: 100 subjects were included in the study. The average age was 20 years (± 2.5). The average BMI was 23 kg/m2 (± 3.1). AC was thicker in men and sportsmen, versus women and sedentary people, with a statistically significant difference. When comparing BMI with AC thickness no significant relationship was found; however, only 2 participants had BMI > 30. CONCLUSIONS: Cartilage thickness has a direct relationship with the percentage of muscle, and inversely with the percentage of fat. BMI is not a good parameter when evaluating the dynamic behaviour of cartilage in non-obese youths

Ultrasound measurement of femoral cartilage thickness in the knee of healthy young university students. / Medición ecográfica del grosor del cartílago femoral en rodilla de jóvenes universitarios sanos.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Articular cartilage (AC) is always affected in any joint with osteoarthritis. Ultrasound can be a useful tool in monitoring changes in the AC. The purpose of the present study is to ultrasound measure the thickness of the AC in the distal femur in young students and determine its relationship with body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, body fat and sports practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with healthy volunteers, between 15 and 25 years old. Anthropometric data were collected and the thickness of the femoral cartilage of the knee was measured at 5 points. In addition, the percentage of muscle and body fat was measured in a subgroup. RESULTS: 100 subjects were included in the study. The average age was 20 years (± 2.5). The average BMI was 23 kg/m2 (± 3.1). AC was thicker in men and sportsmen, versus women and sedentary people, with a statistically significant difference. When comparing BMI with AC thickness no significant relationship was found; however, only 2 participants had BMI > 30. CONCLUSIONS: Cartilage thickness has a direct relationship with the percentage of muscle, and inversely with the percentage of fat. BMI is not a good parameter when evaluating the dynamic behaviour of cartilage in non-obese youths.