Predicting Osteoarthritis Risk Following Knee Injury.

Identification of Prognostic Biomarkers for Osteoarthritis Risk Following Knee Injury: the Knee Injury Cohort @ the Kennedy Study

This observational study seeks to identify and validate novel soluble biomarkers (within blood, synovial fluid, urine) which contribute to the prognostic assessment of an individual with an acute knee injury, a group of individuals in which ~50% will progress to symptomatic radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA).

150 individuals will be followed over 5 years with clinical assessment including validated questionnaires, biological sampling and radiological imaging (X ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinically significant acute knee injury within 8 weeks of recruitment
• Aged 16-50
• Knee effusion, evident clinically or by MRI
• Evidence on MRI of structural injury (from list of relevant injuries)
• Informed written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Knee injured more than 8 weeks prior to recruitment

• Pre-existing advanced radiographic OA (Kellgren Lawrence (KL) grade 3-4) of same side knee at baseline

• Known history of inflammatory/septic arthritis of same side knee

• Knee replacement - previous or planned within 2 years of study start

• Active other (treated) inflammatory disease or infection

• Positive pregnancy test

• Not consenting, or contraindication to provide blood samples:

  • Bilateral mastectomy
  • Bilateral fistulae for renal dialysis

• Unable to give informed written consent in English