Multiparametric MRI of Knees in Collegiate Basketball Players: Associations With Morphological Abnormalities and Functional Deficits.

Background: Rates of cartilage degeneration in asymptomatic elite basketball players are significantly higher compared with the general population due to excessive loads on the knee. Compositional quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) techniques can identify local biochemical changes of macromolecules observed in cartilage degeneration.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to utilize multiparametric qMRI to (1) quantify how T and T relaxation times differ based on the presence of anatomic abnormalities and (2) correlate T and T with self-reported functional deficits. It was hypothesized that prolonged relaxation times will be associated with knees with MRI-graded abnormalities and knees belonging to basketball players with greater self-reported functional deficits.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: A total of 75 knees from National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I basketball players (40 female, 35 male) were included in this multicenter study. All players completed the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and had bilateral knee MRI scans taken. T and T were calculated on a voxel-by-voxel basis. The cartilage surfaces were segmented into 6 compartments: lateral femoral condyle, lateral tibia, medial femoral condyle, medial tibia (MT), patella (PAT), and trochlea (TRO). Lesions from the MRI scans were graded for imaging abnormalities, and statistical parametric mapping was performed to study cross-sectional differences based on MRI scan grading of anatomic knee abnormalities. Pearson partial correlations between relaxation times and KOOS subscore values were computed, obtaining value statistical parametric mappings and  value clusters.

Results: Knees without patellar tendinosis displayed significantly higher T in the PAT compared with those with patellar tendinosis (average percentage difference, 10.4%;  = .02). Significant prolongation of T was observed in the MT, TRO, and PAT of knees without compared with those with quadriceps tendinosis (average percentage difference, 12.7%, 13.3%, and 13.4%, respectively;  ≤ .05). A weak correlation was found between the KOOS-Symptoms subscale values and T/T.

Conclusion: Certain tissues that bear the brunt of impact developed tendinosis but spared cartilage degeneration. Whereas participants reported minimal functional deficits, their high-impact activities resulted in structural damage that may lead to osteoarthritis after their collegiate careers.