title: Comparison of Intact Knee Cartilage Thickness in Patients with Traumatic Lower Extremity Amputation and Nonimpaired Individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the femoral articular cartilage thickness of the intact knee in patients with traumatic lower extremity amputation compared with nonimpaired individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 male patients with traumatic lower extremity amputation (mean [SD] age, 31.2 [6.3] yrs) and a random sample of 53 age-matched and body mass index-matched male nonimpaired individuals (mean [SD] age, 29.8 [6.3] yrs) participated in the study. Exclusion criteria were age younger than 18 yrs, history of significant knee injury, previous knee surgery, or rheumatic disease. The femoral articular cartilage thickness was measured using ultrasound at the midpoints of the medial condyle, the intercondylar notch, and the lateral condyle. Ultrasonographic cartilage measurement was performed on the intact side of the patients with amputation and on both sides of the nonimpaired individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The femoral articular cartilage thickness of the intact knees of the patients with amputation was significantly decreased at the lateral and medial condyles compared with the nonimpaired individuals (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the measurements at the intercondylar notch between the patients with amputation and the nonimpaired individuals (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a premature cartilage loss in the intact limb knee of the patients with traumatic amputation. This result supports the view that patients with traumatic lower extremity amputation are at increased risk for developing knee osteoarthritis in the intact limb.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara (SK, EY, ÜG, KY, AKT); and Military Hospital of Elazığ, The Clinics of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Elazığ, Turkey (ÖK).
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kesikburun
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Köroğlu
authors.forename: Evren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yaşar
authors.forename: Ümüt
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Güzelküçük
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yazcoğlu
authors.forename: Arif Kenan
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000150:complications*; D000674:Amputees; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography