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. 1998 Dec;22(5):282–287. doi: 10.1007/s002640050261

The rotational angle in osteoarthritic knees

N Nagao 1, T Tachibana 1, K Mizuno 2
PMCID: PMC3619578  PMID: 9914929

Summary.

The angle of rotation of the knee joint during weight-bearing in osteoarthritic knees has not been fully determined. The authors aimed to examine the nature and extent of rotation during weight-bearing by means of ultrasonic investigation. There was a highly significant correlation between the rotational angle measured by ultrasound and that determined by CT. The dynamic rotatory movement during weight-bearing was measured in 107 osteoarthritic and 40 control knees. At 20° of flexion the internal rotation of the early grade I osteoarthritic knees (−1.6°) was significantly less than that of the control knees (−4.8°,P=0.004). This abnormality was the initial pathological rotational change in osteoarthritis of the knee joint. The external rotation at maximal extension and the rotation of the screw-home movement proportionately decreased with progression of medial compartment osteoarthritis. By virtue of these observations we have clarified the dynamic rotatory movement in osteoarthritic knees during weight-bearing.

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Footnotes

Accepted: 23 February 1998


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