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Comparative Study
. 2009 Sep;36(9):1987-90.
doi: 10.3899/jrheum.081294. Epub 2009 Jul 15.

Static knee alignment measurements among Caucasians and African Americans: the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project

Amanda E Nelson  1 , Larissa Braga, Andresa Braga-Baiak, Julius Atashili, Todd A Schwartz, Jordan B Renner, Charles G Helmick, Joanne M Jordan
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Static knee alignment measurements among Caucasians and African Americans: the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project

Amanda E Nelson et al. J Rheumatol. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: To determine if knee alignment measures differ between African Americans and Caucasians without radiographic knee osteoarthritis (rOA).

Methods: A single knee was randomly selected from 175 participants in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project without rOA in either knee. Anatomic axis, condylar, tibial plateau, and condylar plateau angles were measured by 1 radiologist; means were compared and adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI).

Results: There were no significant differences in knee alignment measurements between Caucasians and African Americans among men or women.

Conclusion: Observed differences in knee rOA occurrence between African Americans and Caucasians are not explained by differences in static knee alignment.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Varus knee, showing the measurements of static alignment based on Harvey et al (7). 1) Femoral anatomic axis line. 2) Tibial anatomic axis line. 3) Condylar line. 4) Tibial plateau line. a) Anatomic axis angle. b) Condylar angle. c) Tibial plateau angle. d) Condylar plateau angle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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