Conventional Radiography of Grade III Knee Osteoarthritis: A Case Report

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of inflammatory joint disease. It occurs most frequently in the knees, hips, the spine (vertebrae), and ankles. Radiological prevalence of knee OA in Indonesia reaches 15.5% in men and 12.7% in women aged between 40-60 years. X-ray imaging is routinely used in clinical practice to confirm knee OA diagnosis and in clinical research to monitor the progression of knee OA. Case report: A 62-year-old female patient presented with knee pain in both knees that had been ongoing for the past 6 months. The pain was described as throbbing and stabbing, the right knee worse affected than the left. Palpation elicited tenderness, crepitus in both joints and did not reveal any deformities. Radiological AP/Lateral X-ray of the right knee revealed evidence of osteophytes, sclerosis and narrowing joint space, leading to the impression of Grade III osteoarthritis in the right knee. Discussion: Joint pain is the chief complaint that leads patients with knee osteoarthritis to seek medical attention. Pain typically worsens with movement and decreases with rest. In diagnosing OA, an AP/Lateral radiographic examination of the right knee is conducted, revealing the presence of osteophytes, subchondral bone sclerosis and accompanied by slight joint narrowing. This impression aligns with the Grade III OA criteria according to the Kellgren-Lawrence grading system. Conclusion: Diagnosis of osteoarthritis involves a comprehensive approach combining medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. Radiographic examinations including conventional radiography play a significant role in diagnosing OA. In the early stages of the disease, joint radiographs may still appear normal. The severity of knee OA can be evaluated using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading scheme which ranges from grade 0 to grade 4. Keywords: Knee Osteoarthritis, Conventional Radiography, The Kellgren-Lawrence Grading