ABSTRACT
To find out the correlation of patellar alignment with pain and function in knee osteoarthritis [KOA]. Sixty [KOA] patients were subjects for clinical assessment; body mass index, psychometric assessment using Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D]. We assessed knee pain and function using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities [WOMAC] index. CBC, ESR, serum uric acid and urine analysis were performed. Postero-anterior plain x-rays in weight bearing were done for radiological grading of [KOA] using Kellgren-Lawrence score. Magnetic resonance image [MRI] was done in a sagital plane to measure patellar length [PL] and trochlear length [TL]. Patellar length ratio [PLR] was calculated by dividing PL by TL. MRI in a transverse plane was used to measure trochlear indices [depth SA, inclination LTI and angle TA] and patellar indices [LPTA and BO]. PLR and LTI increased significantly with WOMAC pain, not so with TA or SA. There was an increase of LPTA and a decrease of BO with WOMAC pain but not to a significant level. There was a tendency of LTI to increase with WOMAC function. PLR increased with WOMAC function but not to a statistical level. TA, SA, LPTA and BO showed no significant change with WOMAC function. PF arthritis should be considered as an entity separate from tibio-femoral arthritis. There was an association between patellar alignment with knee pain and function. Therefore, procedures to improve patellar biomechanics to correct articular damage may be beneficial to alleviate pain