Correlation between cartilage defects as detected with MRI and x-ray spiking of tibial tubercles in osteoarthritis knees

ABSTRACT

To ascertain whether spiking of the tibial tubercles is associated with cartilage defects as detected by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] in osteoarthritis [OA] of the knee joint patients. The study was performed on 76 knees of 47 patients with symptomatic tibiofemoral joint [TFJ] OA and 31 apparently normal knees of 16 volunteers as a control group. Angulation of the tip of the medial and lateral tubercles and the height of the tubercles above the tibial plateau were measured on a standard anteroposterior radiograph of the knee joint. Cartilage defects in the tibiofemoral joint were determined with MRI examination. The lengthening and sharpening of the angles of the tubercles were significantly more prominent in patients than controls. A strong association was found between angulation [if less than 70[0]] and especially the height [if more than 0.16] of the medial tibial spike and MRI-detected cartilage defects in the medial tibiofemoral compartment. The predictive value of the spiking of tibial tubercles for MRI-detected cartilage defects in TFJ was related to the degree and size of spiking. The presence of tibial spiking itself may not be a reliable sign of early OA