Is Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis Common in Middle‐Aged People With Chronic Patellofemoral Pain?

• Published in: Arthritis care & research (2010) 2014-08, Vol.66 (8), p.1252-1257
• Main Authors: Hinman, Rana S., Lentzos, Jonathan, Vicenzino, Bill, Crossley, Kay M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Chronic Pain - diagnostic imaging; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis, Knee - diagnostic imaging; Patellofemoral Joint - diagnostic imaging; Radiography; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 2151-464X; 2151-4658
• DOI: 10.1002/acr.22274

Objective To document the prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) in the medial and lateral patellofemoral (PF) joint compartments relative to the prevalence of tibiofemoral (TF) joint OA in middle‐aged and older adults with chronic PF knee pain. Methods A convenience sample of 224 people who volunteered for a clinical trial underwent weight‐bearing posteroanterior and skyline knee radiographs of their most symptomatic eligible knee. Radiographic severity in the TF joint and in the medial and lateral PF joint compartments was independently graded by 2 examiners using the Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grading system. K/L grades ≥2 were considered evidence of OA. Results OA was common in this cohort, and the most prevalent pattern was combined TF joint and PF joint OA (n = 98 [44%]), followed by isolated PF joint OA (n = 57 [25%]). Isolated TF joint OA was rare. Overall, more people demonstrated radiographic OA in the PF joint (n = 155 [69%]) than in the TF joint (n = 100 [45%]). The majority of people with PF joint OA had OA in both the medial and lateral PF joint compartments (n = 98 [63%]). Even in people ages