Ultrasound monitoring of the treatment of clinically signifi cant knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objectives: The study presented an ultrasound (US) monitoring of treatment as a new imaging US method with the results of therapy of clinically signifi cant knee osteoarthritis. Background: X-ray is widely used for knee osteoarthritis classifi cation, which does not involve the evaluation of the soft tissue. High frequency and high resolution US of joints (arthrosonography, echoarthrography) assess not only morphologic but also functional changes in the knee joint. Methods: In the prospective study, 110 patients with clinically signifi cant knee osteoarthritis were treated nonoperative. US examination and US monitoring of therapy was performed during 24 weeks therapy period. A remission of pathomorphologic (marginal osteofytes) and pathophysiologic (effusion in anterior knee and Bakeŕs cyst) attributes were evaluated according the US classifi cation. Results: Pathomorphologic attributes changes showed a static state, without remission or progression. Pathophysiologic attributes changes showed a remission during the study period. The highest remission was in the fi rst three weeks, 60 % anterior knee effusion and 62 % Bakeŕs cyst. At the end of study, no changes from the initial US grade was observed in 16 % of effusion in anterior knee and 22 % of Bakeŕs cyst. Therapeutic resistant Bakeŕs cyst was present at the end of study in 36 %. Conclusion: We demonstrated a new method - US monitoring of therapy, which can objectivize the effi ciency of treatment of clinically signifi cant knee osteoarthritis. We would recommend US monitoring of therapy for the routine use in orthopedic clinical praxis.