Relationship between the mechanical and anatomic axis and orientation angles of the knee joint and functional capacity of patients with osteoarthritis

We investigated the relationship between the mechanical-anatomic axes and angles of the knee joint and functional levels of patients with primary osteoarthritis. A total of 35 patients (27 females, 8 males; mean age 58+/-9 years; range 42 to 77 years) with knee osteoarthritis were included. After physical examination, weight-bearing anteroposterior x-rays of the knees were obtained, on which measurements of the following were made: mechanical axis deviation (MAD), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), anatomic tibiofemoral angle (aTFA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), and joint line congruence angle (JLCA). Pain was evaluated by both the Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and a visual analog scale (VAS). Functional capacity was assessed using the physical function and global indices of WOMAC. There was a moderate correlation between body mass index and the WOMAC global index (r=0.47, p