title: Ultrasonographic Assessment of the Femoral Cartilage Thickness in Patients with Pes Planus: A Multicenter Study by TURK-MUSCULUS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to measure the distal femoral cartilage thicknesses of patients with pes planus by using ultrasound imaging and to explore whether ultrasound measurements are associated with degree of pes planus.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seven patients (61 men, 46 women; aged 18-45 yrs) with pes planus and 107 age- and sex-matched as well as body mass index-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. After clinical assessment of the patients, measurements for pes planus were done on the radiographs, and ultrasound imaging of the distal femoral cartilage was performed from the right medial condyle, the right lateral condyle, the right intercondylar area, the left medial condyle, the left lateral condyle, and the left intercondylar area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Femoral cartilage values were thicker than those of the control group at all measurement sites (except for the right lateral condyle) (P's < 0.05). In a subgroup analysis regarding the sex difference, right medial condyle and left medial condyle values in the male subjects as well as right lateral condyle, right intercondylar area, left lateral condyle, and left intercondylar area values in the female subjects were found to be thicker (all P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distal femoral cartilages of the pes planus patients seem to be thicker, and this finding could possibly stem from excessive mechanical stress on the knee joint caused by impaired lower extremity biomechanics.
authors.affiliation: From the Ankara Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Training and Research Hospital, Ankara (GTÖ, FÜM, MK); Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ankara Occupational Diseases Hospital, Ankara (MTY, AEB); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Süleyman Demirel University Medical School, Isparta (EEİ); Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Dicle University Medical School, Diyarbakır (İB, LY); Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Konya Numune Hospital, Konya (AYK); Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, İstanbul University Medical School, İstanbul (DD); and Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara Turkey (LÖ).
authors.forename: Gökhan Tuna
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Öztürk
authors.forename: Fevziye Ünsal
authors.initials: FÜ
authors.lastname: Malas
authors.forename: Mustafa Turgut
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Yildizgören
authors.forename: Ali Erdem
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Baki
authors.forename: Esra Erkol
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: İnal
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Batmaz
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yazmalar
authors.forename: Ali Yavuz
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Karahan
authors.forename: Demirhan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dιraçoğlu
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Özçakar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005413:Flatfoot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult