MCP-1 in synovial fluid as a predictor of inferior clinical outcomes after meniscectomy

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate knee intra-articular cytokine concentrations in patients undergoing isolated meniscectomy and determine if these concentrations are associated with clinical outcomes.

Methods

Concentrations of ten biomarkers were quantified in synovial fluid aspirated from the operative knees of patients who underwent isolated meniscectomy from 10/2011-12/2019. Patients completed a survey at final follow-up including VAS, Lysholm, Tegner, and KOOS Physical Function Short Form (KOOS-PS). Failure was defined as subsequent TKA or non-achievement of the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) for knee pain defined as VAS > 27/100. Regression analysis investigating the relationship between cytokine concentrations and failure was performed.

Results

The study consisted of 100 patients, including 50 males (50.0%) with a mean age of 51.1 ± 11.7 years, a median BMI of 28.9 kg/m² [25.5, 32.4], and a mean follow-up of 8.0 ± 2.2 years. There were no demographic or clinical differences between failures (n = 41) and non-failures (n = 59) at baseline. Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 (MCP-1) concentration was significantly higher in failures than in non-failures (344.3 pg/ml vs. 268.6 pg/ml, p = 0.016). In a regression analysis controlling for age, sex, BMI, symptom duration, length of follow-up, and ICRS grade, increased MCP-1 was associated with increased odds of failure (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

The concentration of MCP-1 on the day of arthroscopic meniscectomy was predictive of failure as defined by an unacceptable pain level at intermediate- to long-term follow-up. This finding may help identify patients at high risk for poor postoperative outcomes following isolated meniscectomy and serve as a target for future postoperative immunomodulation research.