Distribution of distal femoral osteophytes in a human skeletal population

Objectives-To examine objectively spatial patterns of osteophytes around th e distal end of the femur and to identify distinct subgroups. Methods-A sample of 107 human femora from a large skeletal population were selected for study. These femora included subjects with evidence of late st age osteoarthritis (that is, with eburnation present) and those with no suc h evidence. The location of osteophytes was recorded using a video camera a nd digitised computer images were extracted. Multidimensional scaling was u sed to identify clusters of femora based upon osteophyte location. Results-A distinct subgroup of femora was identified with osteophytes prese nt only within the intercondylar notch region. None of these subjects had a ny evidence of eburnation. Conclusions-This finding adds to an earlier study based on radiographs. Ost eophytes located within the intercondylar notch of the femur appear to be a distinct subset, which may occur either as an early stage of knee osteoart hritis or for some independent reason.