Anterior Knee Pain in Osteoarthritis of the Knee

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study were to evaluate the relationship between anterior knee pain and changes of patellofemoral joint in osteoarthritic knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 200 patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty and divided them into two groups ; the group 1(100 cases) with anterior knee pain and the group 2(100 cases) without it. We prospectively measured congruence angle and patellar height, and compared radiologic degenerative changes and operative findings(Outerbridge classification) of patella. RESULTS: The average congruence angle of patella was 11.2+/-1.6degrees in the group 1 and 2.8+/-1.3degrees in the group 2(p<0.05). Patellar height had no significant difference between two groups(p=0.62).For radiologic patellofemoral(PF) degenerative change, the group 1 showed mild degenerative change in 16 , moderate change in 47 and severe change in 37 in plain radiographs. The group 2 showed mild degenerative change in 53 and moderate change in 47 in plain radiographs(p<0.05). For cartilage degenerative change in patella(Outerbridge classification), whereas grade 3&4 were dominant in the group 1 with 71 cases, grade 1&2 were representative in the group 2 with 91 cases(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Anterior knee pain seemed to be related with congruence angle and degenerative changes in radiologic and operative findings.