The natural course of arthrosis of the knee
(1997) In Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 340. p.152-157- Abstract
- The aim of this study was to describe the course of untreated or conservatively treated arthrosis of the knee joint. Of 265 patients presenting with knee pain who had weightbearing radiographs taken between 1970 and 1973, 132 (33 men and 99 women) responded to and participated in a clinical followup 20 years later using the Hospital for Special Surgery score and new weightbearing radiographs. Arthrosis was defined as an equal to or greater than 50% joint space narrowing. In 75 of 132 knees of Ahlback Class 0 (57%) and 20 of 52 knees of Ahlback Class I (39%), the classification remained unchanged. The Hospital for Special Surgery score at followup was compared with the Ahlback classes in the 1970s for the 110 cases for which surgery was not... (More)
- The aim of this study was to describe the course of untreated or conservatively treated arthrosis of the knee joint. Of 265 patients presenting with knee pain who had weightbearing radiographs taken between 1970 and 1973, 132 (33 men and 99 women) responded to and participated in a clinical followup 20 years later using the Hospital for Special Surgery score and new weightbearing radiographs. Arthrosis was defined as an equal to or greater than 50% joint space narrowing. In 75 of 132 knees of Ahlback Class 0 (57%) and 20 of 52 knees of Ahlback Class I (39%), the classification remained unchanged. The Hospital for Special Surgery score at followup was compared with the Ahlback classes in the 1970s for the 110 cases for which surgery was not done. A higher Ahlback class at the time of presentation was associated with lower functional score (Hospital for Special Surgery) 20 years later. In addition, in the contralateral knee a reduction of joint space may occur. In the arthrosis group with total joint space reduction or attrition there was a clinical and radiographic deterioration that would merit surgical intervention to avoid unnecessary loss of function. However, in knees with equal to or greater than 50% joint space reduction (Ahlback I) and pain, a considerable number (39%) did not deteriorate radiographically during a 20-year period, and 25% remain free of pain. It appears that the long-term prognosis of mild knee arthrosis is not necessarily poor. A substantial number of these patients will not have progression of the arthrosis. (Less)
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- author
- Sahlstrom, Arne ; Johnell, Olof LU and Redlund-Johnell, Inga LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 1997
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
- volume
- 340
- pages
- 152 - 157
- publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:9224250
- scopus:0030824761
- ISSN
- 0009-921X
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- bdcdbea5-ae88-4776-9878-abadb6bb5585 (old id 1111736)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:43:09
- date last changed
- 2022-03-05 05:24:54
@article{bdcdbea5-ae88-4776-9878-abadb6bb5585,
abstract = {{The aim of this study was to describe the course of untreated or conservatively treated arthrosis of the knee joint. Of 265 patients presenting with knee pain who had weightbearing radiographs taken between 1970 and 1973, 132 (33 men and 99 women) responded to and participated in a clinical followup 20 years later using the Hospital for Special Surgery score and new weightbearing radiographs. Arthrosis was defined as an equal to or greater than 50% joint space narrowing. In 75 of 132 knees of Ahlback Class 0 (57%) and 20 of 52 knees of Ahlback Class I (39%), the classification remained unchanged. The Hospital for Special Surgery score at followup was compared with the Ahlback classes in the 1970s for the 110 cases for which surgery was not done. A higher Ahlback class at the time of presentation was associated with lower functional score (Hospital for Special Surgery) 20 years later. In addition, in the contralateral knee a reduction of joint space may occur. In the arthrosis group with total joint space reduction or attrition there was a clinical and radiographic deterioration that would merit surgical intervention to avoid unnecessary loss of function. However, in knees with equal to or greater than 50% joint space reduction (Ahlback I) and pain, a considerable number (39%) did not deteriorate radiographically during a 20-year period, and 25% remain free of pain. It appears that the long-term prognosis of mild knee arthrosis is not necessarily poor. A substantial number of these patients will not have progression of the arthrosis.}},
author = {{Sahlstrom, Arne and Johnell, Olof and Redlund-Johnell, Inga}},
issn = {{0009-921X}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{152--157}},
publisher = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
series = {{Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research}},
title = {{The natural course of arthrosis of the knee}},
volume = {{340}},
year = {{1997}},
}