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a School of
Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, UK, b Rheumatology Unit, Bristol University
Division of Medicine, UK, c Department of Mathematics, University of
Bristol, UK
Correspondence to: Dr L Shepstone, School of Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK Email: L.Shepstone{at}uea.ac.uk
Accepted for publication 28 January 2000
OBJECTIVES
To examine
objectively 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 subjects with evidence of late stage
osteoarthritis (that is, with eburnation present) and those 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 subjects 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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