The distribution of distal femoral osteophytes in a human
skeletal population
Lee Shepstone, Juliet Rogers, John Kirwan, Bernard Silverman
Abstract
Objectives : To objectively examine spatial patterns of osteophytes
around the 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 individuals with evidence
of late stage osteoarthritis (i.e. with eburnation present) and individuals
with no such evidence. The location of osteophytes was recorded using a
video camera and digitised computer images were extracted. Multidimensional
scaling was used to identify clusters of femora based upon osteophyte location.
Results : A distinct subgroup of femora was identified with osteophytes
present only within the intercondylar notch region. None of these individuals
had any evidence of eburnation.
Conclusions : This finding adds to an earlier study based on radiographs.
Osteophytes located within the intercondylar notch of the femur appear
to be a distinct subset which may occur either as an early stage of knee
osteoarthritis or for some independent reason.
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