Relatioship of neuropathic pain with femoral cartilage thickness, quality of life, functional status and pre-diagnosis of depression in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Relationship of Neuropathic Pain with Femoral Cartilage Thickness, Quality of Life, Functional Status and Pre-Diagnosis of Depression in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of neuropathic pain(NP) and femoral cartilage thickness (FCT) in patients with symptomatic primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to investigate the relationship between quality of life, functional status and depression. Ninety patients who were diagnosed with primary knee OA according to the American Rheumatology Society (ACR) criteria were included in the study and were assessed by PainDETECT, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Short Form- 36 (SF-36); Beck Depression Scale. Kellgren Lawrance (KL) was used for OA radiological staging. FCT of painful knee was measured using ultrasonograpy. These variables were compared between those with and without NP. A total of 7,8% patients were classified as having likely NP and %18.9 patients were classified as having possible NP. Literacy was higher (p=0.03) in patients without NA. A positive correlation (p=0.032) was found between NP and body mass index (BMI). Those with NP were found to have thinner medial FCT (p=0.035) but higher VAS mean (p=0.002), VAS most severe (p<0.001), BDI (p<0.001) and WOMAC (p<0.001). A negative correlation was found between the NP and all sub parameters of SF-36 (p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between radiographic K-L grading and ultrasonographic FCT (p<0,001), also patients with thicker FCT had lower scores in WOMAC and higher scores in SF-36. This study demonstrated that some of the knee OA patients had a NP component as the underlying cause of knee pain. Patients with NP had increased severity of pain, worse functional status and quality of life, higher depressive mood and thinner femoral cartilage thickness. Key words: Knee osteoarthritis, Neuropathic Pain, Femur cartilage thickness, Radiological stage, Related Factors.