title: Can standing knee radiographs predict chondral lesions in young- and middle-aged population?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to investigate the correlation between arthroscopic findings and joint space width on the standing knee radiographs at various flexion degrees in the young- and middle-aged patients with complaints of knee pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Middle-aged patients with complaint of knee pain ongoing more than 6 months and failure in conservative treatment methods were included. Weight-bearing full extension, 30 and 45° of flexion radiographs were obtained. Joint space width was calculated on radiograms. Arthroscopy was performed to evaluate the chondral pathologies. Correlation analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourty-three patients (18 female, 25 male) with a mean age of 44.6 (20-63) were included. Mean joint space width was 4.87 mm ± 1.45 (2-10) mm in medial and 5.43 mm ± 1.47 (1-9) in lateral on standing extension radiographs. In 30° flexion radiographs, mean joint space width was 4.33 mm ± 1.25 (1.5-7.5) in medial and 5.36 mm ± 1.69 (1-9) in lateral. In 45° flexion radiographs, medial joint space was 4.28 mm ± 1.59 (2-9) in medial and 5.15 mm ± 1.59 (1.5-9) in lateral. In arthroscopic evaluation, one knee had grade 1 (2.3%), three knees had grade 2 (7%), nine knees had grade 3 (20.9%), and twelve knees had grade 4 (27.9%) lesions in the medial compartment. In the lateral compartment, two knees had grade 3 (4.7%) and one knee had grade 4 lesion (2.3%). Radiological data did not correlate with the arthroscopic findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standing knee radiographs do not correlate with the arthroscopic findings in the middle-aged population with chondral lesions in knee joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series with no comparison group, Level IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey, akinu@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Akin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uzumcugil
authors.forename: Senol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bekmez
authors.forename: Defne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Ahmet Ozgur
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Atay
authors.forename: Mahmut Nedim
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Doral
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D055815:Young Adult