Comparison of the medial femorotibial joint space before and immediately after meniscectomy - 06/05/08
S. Prové [1],
O. Charrois [1 et 2],
P. Dekeuwer [1],
L. Fallet [2],
P. Beaufils [1]
Voir les affiliationsPurpose of the study |
The purpose of this prospective study was to develop and evaluate a method for measuring the femorotibial joint space and to assess the effect of meniscectomy.
Material and methods |
This study was conducted in a consecutive series of 36 patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy for lesions of the medial meniscus on a stable knee. The height of the joint space was measured on x-rays taken in the morning before the operation then ten days later. X-rays were obtained for both knees in complete extension and in the 30° flexion position. The height of the joint space was measured on the digital version of the x-rays midway between the vertical tangents of the posterior limits of the medial condyle.
Results |
Readings were not reader dependent and demonstrated no significant difference between the pre and postmeniscectomy height of the medial femorotibial space (30° flexion view, 5.2 ± 1 and 5.2 ± 1 before meniscectomy for reader 1 and 5.2 ± 1 and 5.2 ± 1 for reader 2 (p = 0.05 for Student-Fisher test for paired values). The heights measured by the two readers were correlated (correlation coefficient test).
Discussion |
The height of the medial femorotibial joint space can be measured reproducibly on plain x-rays of the knee in the standard flexion position. We were unable to demonstrate any significant difference in joint space between measures taken before and after meniscectomy.
Keywords:
Meniscectomy
,
joint space
,
knee x-ray
,
30° flexion view
Plan
© 2004 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés.
Vol 90 - N° 7
P. 636-642 - novembre 2004 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.