Knee Surg Relat Res.  2017 Mar;29(1):63-68. 10.5792/ksrr.16.046.

Radiographic Measurement of Joint Space Width Using the Fixed Flexion View in 1,102 Knees of Japanese Patients with Osteoarthritis in Comparison with the Standing Extended View

• Kan H
• Arai Y
• Kobayashi
• Nakagawa S
• Inoue H
• Hino M
• Komaki S
• Ikoma K
• Ueshima K
• Fujiwara H
• Kubo T

• KMID: 2371536
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5792/ksrr.16.046

Abstract

PURPOSE
The fixed flexion view (FFV) of the knee is considered useful for evaluating the joint space when assessing the severity of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. To clarify the usefulness of FFV for evaluation of the joint space and severity of knee OA, this study evaluated changes in the joint space on the FFV and standing extended view (SEV) in patients with knee OA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The SEV and FFV images were acquired in 567 patients (1,102 knees) who visited the hospital with a chief complaint of knee joint pain. Medial joint space width (MJSW) and Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) classification assessed using the SEV and FFV images were compared.
RESULTS
Mean MJSW was significantly smaller when assessed on the FFV than on the SEV (3.02±1.55 mm vs. 4.31±1.30 mm; p<0.001). The K-L grade was the same or higher on the FFV than on the SEV.
CONCLUSIONS
The FFV is more useful than the SEV for evaluating the joint space in OA knees. Treatment strategies in patients with knee OA should be determined based on routinely acquired FFV images.

Keyword

Knee; Osteoarthritis; Radiography

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
Classification
Humans
Joints*
Knee Joint
Knee*
Osteoarthritis*
Radiography