Relationship Between Q-Angle and Articular Cartilage in Female Patients With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: Ultrasonographic and Radiologic Evaluation
Ayşe Aydemir EKİM1, Hatice HAMARAT2, Ahmet MUSMUL3
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Eskişehir State Hospital, Zübeyde Hanım Campus, Eskişehir, Turkey
2Department of Internal Medicine, Eskişehir State Hospital, Eskişehir, Turkey
3Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Medical Faculty of Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey
Keywords: Articular; cartilage; osteoarthritis of knee; ultrasound imaging
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to examine the association between Q-angle and clinical, radiological, and ultrasonographic findings in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Patients and methods: Sixty-eight female patients (mean age 59.8±6.8 years; range 39 to 78 years) diagnosed with knee OA were included in this study and classified into two groups according to Q-angle of symptomatic knees: low Q-angle group (LQ) (n=40) and high Q-angle group (HQ) (n=28) (LQ-angle <15° and HQ-angle ≥15°, respectively). Patients were clinically assessed for pain and functional status by using a visual analog scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index. X-rays of knees were scored using the Kellgren-Lawrence OA grading system. Symptomatic knees were also evaluated using ultrasonography for distal femoral cartilage thickness/grading.
Results: No significant difference was observed in clinical and imaging findings between the groups (p>0.05). HQ-angle measurements were positively correlated with cartilage grading by ultrasonography (r=0.435, p=0.033) and Kellgren-Lawrence grading system (r=0.435, p=0.021), and negatively correlated with cartilage thickness measurements of the medial femoral condyle (r=-0.399, p=0.036).
Conclusion: We found that HQ-angle was associated with cartilage thickness measurements of the medial femoral condyle and cartilage grading by ultrasonography and the Kellgren-Lawrence grading system in patients with knee OA.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.