Summary
We have developed a radiological scoring scale for the evalutation of post-traumatic osteoarthritic changes after a knee ligament injury. It is based on radiographs taken from the knee at the time of injury, and from both knees at the follow-up examination. Ten criteria were used to devise and list the scale. The method has been used on 60 patients operated on primarily after an acute knee ligament injury. The mean age of the patients when injured was 36.6 years, and they were re-examined at an average of three and a half years after the operation. The scale includes adjustments so that the final scores measure only the pathological changes caused by the ligament injury. Reproducibility of the scale is excellent and the scores correlate well with the clinical results. The registration form is simple, may be completed easily and revised when necessary. The numerical data are readily prepared for statistical and computer analyses. Ninety five per cent of all the changes caused by the ligament injuries fitted the scale, showing success in the selection of the variables. The scale is recommended as a method of improving the uniformity and reliability of the assessment of post-traumatic osteoarthritic changes after knee ligament injury.
Résumé
Nous avons mis au point un système de cotation afin d'évaluer les modifications arthrosiques après traumatisme d'un ligament du genou. Il est basé sur les radiographies du genou faites au moment de l'accident et des deux genoux au moment de l'examen de contrôle. On a eu recours à dix critères pour établir l'échelle de cotation. La méthode a été utilisée chez 60 sujets opérés d'emblée d'une lésion récente d'un ligament du genou. L'âge moyen des patients au moment de l'accident était de 26,6 ans et ils ont été revus en moyenne trois ans et demi après l'opération. L'échelle comporte des ajustements de sorte que la cotation définitive mesure seulement les modifications pathologiques liées à la lésion ligamentaire. La reproductibilité de cette échelle est excellente et les cotations sont parfaitement corrélées avec l'évaluation clinique. La fiche est facile à remplir, et peut être mise à jour si nécessaire. Les données numériques se prêtent aisément à l'analyse statistique par ordinateur. 95% de toutes les modifications causées par les traumatismes ligamentaires s'ajustent à la cotation, ce qui démontre la qualité du choix des critères. Ce système de cotation peut être recommandé comme un moyen d'améliorer l'objectivité et la fiabilité de l'estimation des manifestations arthrosiques après une lésion traumatique d'un ligament du genou.
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Kannus, P., Järvinen, M. & Paakkala, T. A radiological scoring scale for evaluation of post-traumatic osteoarthritis after knee ligament injuries. International Orthopaedics 12, 291–297 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317827
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317827