Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2025
07:19
Author Spotlight: Fu's Subcutaneous Needling for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain
Published on: March 24, 2023
4.5K
Knee osteonecrosis after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic case-based review
Pierangelo Za1,2, Giuseppe Francesco Papalia1,2, Fabrizio Russo1,2
1Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.
Annals of Joint
|August 8, 2024
Summary
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be linked to knee osteonecrosis (ON). This review found seven cases of knee ON after COVID-19 infection, suggesting a multifactorial origin possibly involving patient factors, the virus, and corticosteroid use.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19.
- Musculoskeletal symptoms, including knee osteonecrosis (ON), can occur in COVID-19 patients.
- A potential link between COVID-19 and knee ON warrants investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and investigate the hypothetical correlation between COVID-19 and knee ON.
- To analyze cases of knee ON occurring after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of articles reporting knee ON after COVID-19 diagnosis.
- Inclusion of all evidence levels due to the emerging nature of COVID-19.
- Data extraction on patient characteristics, MRI findings, corticosteroid use, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Five studies (two case series, three case reports) were included, describing seven cases of post-COVID knee ON.
- Knee pain onset averaged 11 weeks post-COVID-19 diagnosis.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed ON in all cases; corticosteroid use was noted in four patients.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between COVID-19 and ON is not yet clear.
- Post-COVID-19 ON likely has a multifactorial origin, potentially involving patient factors, COVID-19 effects, and corticosteroid therapy.
- Further research with larger patient cohorts is needed to elucidate the role of COVID-19 in knee ON pathogenesis.
