Study Design Case control study. Purpose To determine the prevalence and degree of asymptomatic cervical and lumbar facet joint arthritis. We retrospectively reviewed 500 computed tomography (CT) scans of cervical facet joints obtained from 50 subjects. Moreover, 500 lumbar facet joints obtained from an additional 50 subjects were reviewed. Overview of Literature Numerous reports in the literature indicate that joint arthritis is a major source of axial neck and low back pain. However, the diagnostic value of this condition, based on degenerative changes seen on radiological studies, remains controversial because significant imaging findings may not correlate with corresponding symptoms. The CT scan is a sensitive method for facet joint evaluation and may reveal degenerative abnormalities. Previous studies have described the prevalence of facet arthropathy in symptomatic patients, according to radiological findings; however, no study to date has assessed its prevalence in asymptomatic patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the neck and abdominal CT scans of patients had been examined for non-spinal pathologies (i.e., thyroid disease, rule out cancer, ascites). Electronic medical records were reviewed to exclude patients with histories of either neck or back pain. Arthritis severity was graded using a previously published four-point CT scale. Results The prevalence of asymptomatic cervical facet arthritis (grade 1–3) was 33% (grade 1, 19%; grade 2, 11%; and grade 3, 3%). Among asymptomatic patients, 37% had scalable lumbar facet join arthritis (grade 1, 24%; grade 2, 9%; and grade 3, 4%). There was a statistically significant difference (chi-square test, p <0.0001) in the number of older individuals with arthritic degeneration at the cervical and lumbar levels compared with that of younger individuals. The C6–C7 and L5–S1 levels were the most likely to show arthritic changes. Conclusions Arthritic changes to the cervical and lumbar facet joints are prevalent among patients, and in some cases are asymptomatic. These findings were more common in older patients and at lower spinal levels.
Iliopsoas tendon rupture is a relatively rare cause of hip pain. It has been described in children, in adults with pathologic avulsion secondary to metastatic disease, and in older individuals with multiple chronic illnesses. We are reporting a case of apparently spontaneous iliopsoas tendon rupture that occurred in an elderly patient presenting with severe debilitating hip pain whose etiology initially was unrecognized. Magnetic resonance imaging of the hip confirmed the diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of considering iliopsoas tear in the differential diagnosis of unexplained acute onset hip pain and illustrates that geriatric patients with this condition can be treated conservatively with satisfactory functional outcome.
Objectives To examine the reliability and face validity of ultrasound (US) measurements of distal femoral cartilage thickness (CT) using the infrapatellar view (IPV) with knee extension compared to the traditional suprapatellar view (SPV) with knee hyperflexion in young asymptomatic participants and patients with painful knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods The IPV was obtained in an extended knee position by placing the US transducer on the patellar tendon at a 60° angle tilted toward the distal femoral condyle in 19 young adults (control group) and 70 patients with KOA. The CT was measured at the medial femoral condyle, the intercondylar notch, and the lateral femoral condyle. Results The inter‐rater intraclass correlation coefficient was higher for IPV‐based CT measurement (range, 0.856–0.858) compared to SPV‐based CT measurement (range, 0.315–0.523) among the patients with symptomatic KOA. The IPV‐based CT differed significantly between the control group and the KOA group at the intercondylar notch (P < .001) and lateral femoral condyle (P = .006). The SPV‐based CT differed significantly between the control group and the KOA group only at the lateral femoral condyle region (P = .014). Conclusions An infrapatellar US evaluation of the distal femoral CT can be a reliable alternative method to a suprapatellar US evaluation for patients with KOA.
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