Volume 18, Issue 4 p. 467-476
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Can radiographic patellofemoral osteoarthritis be diagnosed using clinical assessments?

Jade M. Tan

Corresponding Author

Jade M. Tan

Discipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

Correspondence

Jade M Tan, Discipline of Podiatry and La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia.

Email: jade.tan@latrobe.edu.au

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Hylton B. Menz

Hylton B. Menz

Discipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

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Shannon E. Munteanu

Shannon E. Munteanu

Discipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

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Natalie J. Collins

Natalie J. Collins

La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

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Harvi F. Hart

Harvi F. Hart

La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Collaborative Training Program in Musculoskeletal Health Research, and Bone and Joint Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada

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Joel W. Donnar

Joel W. Donnar

La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

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Gearoid Cleary

Gearoid Cleary

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

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Isobel C. O'Sullivan

Isobel C. O'Sullivan

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

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Liam R. Maclachlan

Liam R. Maclachlan

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

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Catherine L. Derham

Catherine L. Derham

La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

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Kay M. Crossley

Kay M. Crossley

La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

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First published: 30 June 2020
Citations: 3

Abstract

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine whether participant characteristics and clinical assessments could identify radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) in individuals with clinically diagnosed, symptomatic patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA).

Methods

Participant characteristics and clinical assessments were obtained from 179 individuals aged 50 years and over with clinically diagnosed symptomatic PFOA, who were enrolled in a randomised trial. Anteroposterior, lateral, and skyline X-rays were taken of the symptomatic knee. The presence of radiographic PFOA was defined as “no or early PFOA” (Kellgren and Lawrence [KL] grade ≤1 in the PF compartment) or “definite PFOA” (KL grade ≥2). Diagnostic test statistics were applied to ascertain which participant characteristics and clinical assessments could identify the presence of definite radiographic PFOA.

Results

A total of 118 participants (66%) had definite radiographic PFOA. Univariate analysis identified that older age (>61 years), female sex, higher body mass index (BMI) (>29 kg/m2), longer pain duration (>2.75 years), higher maximum knee pain during stair ambulation (>47/100 mm), and fewer repeated single step-ups to pain onset (<21) were associated with the presence of definite radiographic PFOA. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that BMI, pain duration, and repeated single step-ups to pain onset were independently associated with radiographic PFOA and identified the presence of definite radiographic PFOA with an overall accuracy of 73%.

Conclusion

In individuals over 50 years of age with a clinical diagnosis of PFOA, higher BMI, longer pain duration, and fewer repeated single step-ups to pain onset increased the likelihood of radiographic PFOA. However, overall diagnostic accuracy was modest, suggesting that radiographic PFOA cannot be confidently identified using these tests.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None of the authors have a competing interest to declare.

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