Radiographic measurement of joint space height in non-osteoarthritic tibiofemoral joints A COMPARISON OF WEIGHT-BEARING EXTENSION AND 30° FLEXION VIEWS

• Published in: Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume Vol. 85-B; no. 7; pp. 980 - 982
• Main Authors: Deep, K., Norris, M., Smart, C., Senior, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery 01.09.2003; British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery
• Edition: British volume
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Knee; Human; Measurement; Radiography; Positioning; Radiodiagnosis; Healthy subject; Radiologic sign; Diagnosis; Technique; Experimental study
• DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.85B7.13930
• ISSN: 0301-620X; 2049-4394

There have been many reports which suggest that in patients with tibiofemoral osteoarthritis, a reduction in joint space is demonstrated better on weight-bearing radiographs taken with the knee in semiflexion than in full extension. The reduction has been attributed to the loss of articular cartilage in the contact area in a semiflexed arthritic knee. None of these studies have, however, included normal knees. We have therefore undertaken a prospective, double-blind, randomised study in order to evaluate the difference in the joint-space of arthroscopically-proven normal tibiofemoral joints as seen on weight-bearing full-extension and 30° flexion posteroanterior radiographs. Twenty-two knees were evaluated and the results showed that there may be a difference of up to 2 mm in the two views. This difference could be attributed to the inherent differential thickness of the articular cartilage in different areas of the femoral and tibial condyles and a change in the areas of contact between them.