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Background: T2 mapping is increasingly used to quantify cartilage degeneration in knee osteoarthritis (OA), yet reproducibility studies in a multicenter setting are limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the longitudinal reproducibility and multicenter variation of cartilage T2 mapping, using various MRI equipment and acquisition protocols. Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, four traveling, healthy human subjects underwent T2 mapping twice at five different centers with a 6-month-interval. Centers had various MRI scanners, field strengths, and T2 mapping acquisition protocols. Mean T2 values were calculated in six cartilage regions of interest (ROIs) as well as an average value per patient. A phantom was scanned once at each center. To evaluate longitudinal reproducibility, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), root-mean-square coefficient of variation (RMS-CV), and a Bland-Altman plot were used. To assess the variation of in vivo and phantom T2 values across centers, ANOVA was performed. Results: ICCs of the T2 mapping measurements per ROI and the ROI's combined ranged from 0.73 to 0.91, indicating good to excellent longitudinal reproducibility. RMS-CVs ranged from 1.1% to 1.5% (per ROI) and 0.6% to 1.6% (ROIs combined) across the centers. A Bland-Altman plot did not reveal a systematic error. Evident, but consistent, discrepancies in T2values were observed across centers, both in vivo and in the phantom. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that T2mapping can be used to longitudinal assess cartilage degeneration in multicenter studies. Given the differences in absolute cartilag

Background: Meniscal tears are traditionally classified into traumatic versus degenerative tears. Although this classification plays a major role in clinical decision making, no consensus exists on the exact definition of a traumatic or degenerative tear, and the histopathological basis for this

NHS-Prospero registration number 42016048592 Objective In order to make a more evidence-based selection of patients who would benefit the most from arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM), knowledge of prognostic factors is essential. We conducted a systematic review of predictors for the clinical outcome following APM. Design Systematic review Data sources Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, PubMed Publisher, Google Scholar Inclusion criteria Report an association between factor(s) and clinical outcome; validated questionnaire; follow-up >1 year. Exclusion criteria <20 subjects; anterior cruciate ligament-deficient patients; discoid menisci; meniscus repair, transplantation or implants; total or open meniscectomy. Methods One reviewer extracted the data, two reviewers assessed the risk of bias and performed a best-evidence synthesis. Results Finally, 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. Moderate evidence was found, that the presence of radiological knee osteoarthritis at baseline and longer duration of symptoms (>1 year) are associated with worse clinical outcome following APM. In addition, resecting >50% of meniscal tissue and leaving a non-intact meniscal rim after meniscectomy are intra-articular predictive factors for worse clinical outcome. Moderate evidence was found that sex, onset of symptoms (acute or chronic), tear type or preoperative sport level are not predictors for clinical outcome. Conflicting evidence was found for the prognostic value of age, perioperative chondral damage, body mass index and leg alignment. Summary/conclusion Long duration of symptoms (>1 year), radiological knee osteoarthritis and resecting >50% of meniscus are associated with a worse clinical outcome following APM. These prognostic factors should be considered in clinical decision making for patients with meniscal tears.