VALIDITY OF ECHOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF CARTILAGE IN GONARTHROSIS - PRELIMINARY-REPORT

We studied an echographic technique by which precise reproducible meas urements of articular cartilage thickness of the knee is possible. Two groups of individuals were studied: a group of 18 patients with gonar throsis and a control group of 10 normal individuals. The group of 18 patients with gonarthrosis was studied by ultrasound (US) before knee prosthesis surgery. The cartilage thickness was measured within the we ight-bearing area. US re-evaluation and histological measurements were made on the pathological specimen following the operation. Results of pre- and post-operative US data were compared with histological data. A good correlation between these measurements was found [P(t)>10%]. I n order to have comparative reference values of the articular cartilag e within the weight-bearing area of the femoral trochlea a group of 10 control subjects was also studied with US as above. We found that the articular cartilage thickness of the femoral trochlea in the weight-b earing area has a mean of 2.2 +/- 0.3 mm for the lateral condyle and 2 .3 +/- 0.2 mm for the medial condyle. The intra-observer and inter-obs erver difference in measurements was evaluated with Student's t-test. Our data demonstrate that US measurements of articular cartilage thick ness of femoral condyles is a sensitive and reproducible technique whi ch permits early diagnosis and management of knee arthropathy as well as quantification of cartilage damage.