DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i01.036

Pages: 202-208

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major health problem in middle aged and older individuals in the form of progressive and disabling joint disease. It is the fourth leading cause of the economic health care burden. Radiographic imaging continues to be most frequently used imaging technique for knee OA, radiographic knee OA changes might be observed only in patients with significant pathological damage in the knee also radiographs are not useful in predicting preclinical OA.MRI becomes the test of choice, because of its capability to directly assess the cartilage and overall structural damage of the knee due to OA but the concern of cost is a major factor in our part of world and hence high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUSG) of knee is desirable method of screening for articular cartilage abnormality and extraarticular abnormalities. Its cost effectiveness, portability, dynamic scanning capabilities make it useful in our settings. Majority of patients in our study were in 4th to 5th decade of life with a mean age of 51 years +/-10.7. Most of the patients were females accounting for 61% of total patients. A large number of patients (52% of total) in our study group were overweight. Osteophyte formation was seen in 153 (76.5%) of total 200 cases followed by joint space reduction in 88 (44%) cases on radiography. K-L grade II, III and IV cases accounted for 88 (44%) of total 200 cases. Meniscal protrusion was the most common abnormality on HRUSG, accounting for 139 (88%) symptomatic cases, followed by articular cartilage abnormality in 128 (81%) cases, joint effusion in 114 (72%) cases and osteophyte formation in 111 (70%) cases. Structural changes were seen in 193 (96.5%) cases on HRUSG in comparison to 153 (76.5%) cases on radiography out of total 200 cases of osteoarthritic knee. HRUSG was capable to detect structural changes in the radiographically normal osteoarthritic knees.