Background

Musculoskeletal problems such as pain, joint pathology, increased risk of fracture, and the development of structural deformities are common in childhood obesity. Increased mechanical stress on the knee joint leads to degenerative changes in the cartilage and meniscus. Meniscal elasticity values increase in meniscal degeneration. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is an ultrasound-based imaging technique based on the principle of measuring tissue elasticity.

Objective

We aimed to investigate the changes in meniscal stiffness and thickness that can be caused by obesity in children and adolescents using SWE.

Materials and methods

In this prospective cross-sectional study, the menisci of obese (n=44) and age- and sex-matched healthy weight (n=44) children and adolescents were assessed by SWE. Meniscal elasticity was measured in kPa on the coronal plane. Independent samples t-test was used to compare meniscal elasticity values between groups. Additionally, Pearson’s correlation test was used to examine the relationships between elasticity values and age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI).

Results

Meniscal elasticity values were significantly higher in the obese group than in the control group (P<0.001). In both groups, there was no significant difference in meniscal stiffness between the boys and girls or between the right and left sides. In the obese group, there were weak and moderate positive correlations between meniscal elasticity values and age, weight, and BMI (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in meniscal thickness between the obese and control groups.

Conclusion

Meniscal stiffness is increased in obese children and adolescents.

中文翻译：

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使用剪切波弹性成像评估肥胖儿童和青少年的半月板弹性：初步横断面研究

背景

疼痛、关节病变、骨折风险增加以及结构畸形等肌肉骨骼问题在儿童肥胖症中很常见。膝关节机械应力增加导致软骨和半月板退行性变化。半月板退化时半月板弹性值增加。剪切波弹性成像（SWE）是一种基于测量组织弹性原理的超声成像技术。

客观的

我们的目的是使用 SWE 来研究儿童和青少年肥胖可能导致的半月板硬度和厚度的变化。

材料和方法

在这项前瞻性横断面研究中，SWE 对肥胖 ( n = 44) 和年龄和性别匹配的健康体重 ( n = 44) 儿童和青少年的半月板进行了评估。半月板弹性在冠状面上以 kPa 为单位进行测量。采用独立样本t检验来比较组间半月板弹性值。此外，皮尔逊相关性检验用于检查弹性值与年龄、身高、体重和体重指数 (BMI) 之间的关系。

结果

肥胖组半月板弹性值显着高于对照组（P <0.001）。在两组中，男孩和女孩之间或左右两侧之间的半月板硬度没有显着差异。肥胖组半月板弹性值与年龄、体重、BMI呈弱正相关和中度正相关（P <0.05）。肥胖组和对照组之间的半月板厚度没有显着差异。

结论

肥胖儿童和青少年的半月板硬度增加。