A study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases has suggested that people with varus knee alignment have an increased risk for the development of osteoarthritis of the knee.
The aim of this study was to test whether alignment influences the risk for the development of new OA and to determine whether varus and valgus alignment cause the condition to progress in existing osteoarthritis.
Varus and valgus alignment increase, respectively, medial and lateral tibiofemoral load, the authors observed.
The study included 2713 volunteers aged 50 to 79 years. All had arthritis or were at increased risk for the development of the condition because they were overweight, had knee surgery, or had a previous knee injury.
The study carried full-limb x-rays from the hip to the knee to the ankle and knee x-rays at the beginning entry and at 30 months.
Varus alignment was defined as a 178° angle or less from the hip to the knee to the ankle; valgus alignment was defined as an 182° angle or more from the hip to the knee to the ankle.
The study authors found that varus alignment was associated with 1.49 times the risk for the development of OA (95% confidence interval, 1.06 – 2.10). There was no increased risk for valgus alignment.
The study found that varus alignment was associated with a greater risk for medial osteoarthritis progression. Valgus alignment was associated with a greater risk for lateral progression but a reduced risk for medial progression.
The source of malalignment may be genetic, developmental, or traumatic, but both varus and valgus alignments increase the risk for subsequent OA progression irrespective of the cause.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health. The study authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
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