INTRODUCTIONrnOsteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases with increased incidence in the current aging population.1 Knee OA is characterized by pathological changes in most tissues of the joint, including cartilage degradation, synovial inflammation, and subchondral bone structure alteration, which ultimately lead to a narrow joint space and osteophytes, resulting in severe destruction and impaired function.