ASSESSMENT OF VARUS ANGULATION OF THE KNE E - ANTERIOPOSTERIOR ROENTGENOGRAMS COMPARING ONE-LEG STANCE AND 2-LEG STANCE

31 men with a varus angulation of the knee and medial osteoarthritis w ere x-rayed under identical projection and unchanged position of the f oot when standing on both legs and after lifting the contralateral leg for the one-leg stance. Using an image analysis system, the roentgeno grams were evaluated to answer the question whether the roentgenogram gives more information when standing on both or only on one leg. When standing on one leg, the femorotibial angle increased significantly. H eight and area of the medial joint space decreased significantly. The lateral joint space increased significantly as a consequence of the la teral instability. From the statistical analysis we draw the conclusio n, that, whenever possible, the anteroposterior roentgenogram should b e taken standing only on one leg, because it gives a better presentati on of the varus angulation and the loss of cartilage in the medial com partiment.