3D Joint Space Evaluation in Knee Osteoarthritis: The Importance of Weight-bearing and Flexion (3DJSW-MRI)

May 4, 2026 updated by: Mylène Jansen

Rationale: Osteoarthritis (OA) is mainly characterized by cartilage degeneration. In knee OA, measuring the distance between the tibia and femur, known as the joint space width (JSW), is an often-used method to quantify the progression of the disease or the effectiveness of treatments, because it is an indirect measure of cartilage degeneration. However, JSW is often measured while the patient is standing (weight-bearing) with slightly flexed knees, with a flexion angle of around 7-10 degrees, while direct cartilage thickness measurements are usually performed while the patient is lying down (non-weight-bearing) with an extended leg [1]. Because of this difference in positioning, it is difficult to compare different JSW and cartilage thickness measures, as it is not clear what happens with the JSW distribution in the joint when a patient changes position between weight-bearing/non-weight-bearing and flexion/extension. In this study, we aim to identify the changes that occur in the knee of OA patients under the influence of weight-bearing and/or flexion, to enable comparing joint space measures from different positions. In this research we want to use MRI as a three-dimensional imaging technique because there is no radiation involved..

Objective: To evaluate how the 3D knee joint space distribution in knee OA patients changes under the influence of weight-bearing (upright) and flexion MRI scanning.

Study design: Explorative cross-sectional study. Study population: 21 patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3) are included from the orthopaedics department of Medisch Spectrum Twente in Enschede.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary study parameter is the change in medial joint space width between the different positions (weight-bearing/non-weight-bearing and flexion/extension).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

21

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Netherlands
    • Overijssel
      • Enschede, Overijssel, Netherlands, 7522NB
        • University of Twente

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with symptomatic and radiographic (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2-3) knee osteoarthritis eligible for MRI scanning

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in at least one knee
  • > 18 years old
  • Kellgren-Lawrence grade (severity) 2 or 3
  • Good knowledge of the Dutch language
  • Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous surgery in (both) symptomatic knee(s)
  • Inability to stand for 15 minutes, without assistance
  • Unable to fit knee in the MRI coil (knee width > ~15 cm)
  • Not eligible for MRI, in response to the MRI safety checklist

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Medial joint space width
Time Frame: 1 hour
Medial joint space width in four scan positions
1 hour

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Lateral joint space width
Time Frame: 1 hour
Lateral joint space width in four scan positions
1 hour

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Mylène Jansen

Collaborators

University of Twente

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Wyger Brink, PhD, University of Twente
  • Principal Investigator: Simon Mastbergen, PhD, UMC Utrecht

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 25, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

September 25, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 6, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

July 18, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 23-040

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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