Is Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis Common in Middle-Aged People With Chronic Patellofemoral Pain?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To document the prevalence of radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) in the medial and lateral patellofemoral (PF) joint compartments relative to the prevalence of tibiofemoral (TF) joint OA in middle-aged and older adults with chronic PF knee pain. METHODS: A convenience sample of 224 people who volunteered for a clinical trial underwent weight-bearing posteroanterior and skyline knee radiographs of their most symptomatic eligible knee. Radiographic severity in the TF joint and in the medial and lateral PF joint compartments was independently graded by 2 examiners using the Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grading system. K/L grades ≥2 were considered evidence of OA. RESULTS: OA was common in t..