title: Association between varus alignment and post-traumatic osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between varus alignment and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA) after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred subjects with an acute complete ACL tear were followed for 15 years. Anterior-posterior radiographs of the tibiofemoral joint were obtained with a knee flexion of 20°, and the patellofemoral joint was examined with skyline view at 50° knee flexion. Joint space narrowing and osteophytes were graded in the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints in the injured (ACL) and uninjured knee according to the radiographic atlas of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International. The alignment of the uninjured, contralateral knee was measured at follow-up, using full-limb radiographs of leg with the knee in full extension. Alignment was expressed as the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle. Alignment was defined as valgus (HKA ≤178°), neutral (179°-181°) or varus (≥182°).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 68 subjects were included in the analysis. Varus alignment of the uninjured knee at follow-up appeared to be associated with OA of the injured knee 15 years after an ACL injury (odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 3.9 (1.0-15.8, p = 0.052)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Varus alignment of the uninjured knee at follow-up may be associated with OA of the injured knee 15 years after an ACL injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Skåne University Hospital and Lund University, 221 85, Lund, Sweden. per.sward@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swärd
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fridén
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boegård
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kostogiannis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012421:Rupture; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D055815:Young Adult