Effects of Body Mass Index, Infrapatellar Fat Pad Volume and Age on Patellar Cartilage Defect

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between patellar cartilage defects and body mass index (BMI), infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) volume and age. METHODS: 100 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were aged 18 to 60, were evaluated retrospectively. The BMI’s of the participants were evaluated according to their weight and height. For detecting and measuring patellar cartilage defects, axial sequences were used and sagittal sequences for were used to evaluate IPFP volumes in MRI. RESULTS: 40 patients were found to have patellar cartilage defects. In this group, age and BMI were higher in both sexes when compared with the controls (P<0.05). The IPFP volume was lower in the group with the patellar cartilage defect when compared with the control group (P<0.05). The IPFP volume was statistically significantly lower in women (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patellar cartilage defects were found to be related to age and BMI. In women, the decrease in IPFP volume seems to be one of the causative factors for patellar cartilage defects. The effect of IPFP volume on articular cartilage in healthy people is unknown. Further studies focusing on patellofemoral cartilage damage are needed to reveal this association