Tibial torsion in osteoarthrosis of the knee joint

ABSTRACT

The incidence, direction and extent of tibial torsion in 311 patients with osteoarthrosis of the knee were studied [350 affected knees] using a tropometer. The control group consisted of 200 individuals [400 tibiae] of different ages, not suffering from osteoarthrosis. The tibiae of the first group on the nonaffected side were also measured and compared with the diseased and control subjects. In the control group there was no subjects with internal tibial torsion, zero torsion was present in 0.5% and all the remaining tibiae showed external tibial torsion [99.5%]. The range of external tibial torsion in them was 1-40, average 26.2. In the non-osteoarthrotic side in patients there was tibial internal torsion of 1- 20, average 9.2 in 17.7%, and external torsion of 1 to 29, average 19.9 in 78%, and zero torsion in 4.3%. In the non-osteoarthrotic side in patients there was zero torsion in 1.1%, external tibial torsion of 3 - 30, average 23.1 in 98.9%, and no tibiae with internal tibial torsion. It is concluded that internal tibial torsion is closely connected with osteoarthrosis of the knee joint, particularly when the medial compartment is affected, as a cause or as a result, most probably as an aetiological factor