Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) of the Knee in Professional Soccer Players

Welsch GH, Regier M, Frosch KH, Pachowsky M, Henes FO, Adam G, Maas KJ, Warncke ML (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Cartilage SAGE Publications

DOI: 10.1177/19476035251329571

Abstract

Objective: The goal of our study was to assess the prevalence of osteoarthritis in the knee joint of active male professional soccer players by means of the semi-quantitative Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS). Design: Magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) of both knees were performed on 85 male professional soccer players during their “medicals” (age = 24 ± 4 years). All baseline data (age, playing position) were obtained. Based on the WORMS, the status of the cartilage and bone in the medial and lateral femoro-tibial joint (MFTJ and LFTJ), as well as the patellofemoral joint was assessed. Menisci and ligaments were evaluated separately. The final score was the sum of all regional scores. Results: The mean WORMS of the 170 knee joints was 13.3 ± 13.5 points (range = 0-111, achievable scores: 0-290). Cartilage changes were the most common pathologies, observed in 141 of the 170 knee joints. Structural cartilage lesions (WORMS ≥ 2) were observed in 54% of the studied knees. Pathologies of the medial meniscus were associated with cartilage damage of the corresponding MFTJ (r = 0.424, P < 0.0001). The same effect was observed for the lateral meniscus and the corresponding LFTJ (r = 0.553, P < 0.0001). However, lateral meniscal lesions could be correlated with more other joint pathologies compared to medial meniscal lesions. Total WORMS correlated significantly with increasing age (r = 0.386, P = 0.001). Conclusion: The provided data show the high incidence of knee joint damage in professional football players. In particular, the lateral meniscus appears to play a critical role.

Authors with CRIS profile

Milena Pachowsky Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) DE Germany (DE) LMU Klinikum DE Germany (DE) BG Klinikum Hamburg / Berufsgenossenschaftliches Unfallkrankenhaus Hamburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Welsch, G.H., Regier, M., Frosch, K.H., Pachowsky, M., Henes, F.O., Adam, G.,... Warncke, M.L. (2025). Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) of the Knee in Professional Soccer Players. Cartilage. https://doi.org/10.1177/19476035251329571

MLA:

Welsch, Goetz Hannes, et al. "Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) of the Knee in Professional Soccer Players." Cartilage (2025).

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