Abstract
Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography of knee osteoarthritis. Methods : 124 osteoarthritis patients classified by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) clinical criteria were included in the study. Simple X-ray and ultrasonography examination (effusion, osteophyte, articular cartilage, Backer's cyst) of knee in pain were performed. Also VAS, KWOMAC score were checked. Results : X-ray showed abnormal findings in 112 patients, but ultrasonography showed abnormal findings in all 124 patients. 12 Patients with unremarkable knee X-ray showed effusion and osteophyte in the ultrasonography. Effusion was discovered only in 18 cases of X-ray and 62 cases of ultrasonography. Group with effusion showed higher VAS mean figure but couldn't retrieve significant difference. KWOMAC showed no significant difference. Conclusions : Osteoarthritis patients with no abnormality in X-ray diagnosed abnormal findings through sonograph, which manifest that sonograph can be utilized for differential diagnosis especially sensitive on the problem of effusion.