Simultaneous Total Knee Arthroplasty and Proximal Tibiofibular Joint Arthrodesis: A Case Report.

CASE: A 57-year-old man presented with tricompartmental left knee osteoarthritis, as well as proximal tibiofibular joint arthritis and a ganglion cyst. He underwent simultaneous total knee arthroplasty and proximal tibiofibular joint arthrodesis, with an excellent outcome. CONCLUSION: Proximal tibiofibular joint arthritis is uncommon and may be associated with tibiofemoral arthritis, proximal tibiofibular joint instability, and ankylosing spondylitis. We present a case of simultaneous total knee arthroplasty and proximal tibiofibular arthrodesis. This is an effective option for treating patients with dual pathology. The proximal tibiofibular joint should be considered as an uncommon cause of lateral knee pain.

Reliability of three radiographic classification systems for knee osteoarthritis among observers of different experience levels.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the intra- and inter-observer reliability of three commonly referenced radiographic classification systems for knee osteoarthritis in a cohort of arthroplasty candidates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-operative radiographs of 112 patients who subsequently underwent primary total knee arthroplasty were evaluated by four independent observers of varying experience. Each x-ray was de-identified, randomised, and classified according to the International Knee Documentation Committee, Kellgren-Lawrence, and Ahlbäck classifications. After a 2-week interval period, each x-ray was again randomised and re-classified. RESULTS: Regarding inter-observer reliability, the Ahlbäck and Kellgren-Lawrence classifications were shown to have 'substantial agreement' (AC 0.79 and 0.85 respectively), and the IKDC was shown to have 'almost perfect agreement' (AC 0.97). Regarding intra-observer reliability, the two more experienced observers demonstrated 'good' or 'excellent' reliability for all classification systems, and the two less experienced observers demonstrated 'moderate' intra-observer reliability for all classification systems. CONCLUSION: The International Knee Documentation Committee, Kellgren-Lawrence, and Ahlbäck radiographic classifications demonstrated adequate intra- and inter-observer reliability, supporting their potential implementation in surgical practice, or in epidemiological and clinical studies of knee osteoarthritis in a comparable cohort of patients. Clinical experience was positively correlated with intra-observer reliability. Whilst the International Knee Documentation Committee classification demonstrated the greatest reliability, this is likely due to its conservative definitions, and the Ahlbäck and Kellgren-Lawrence classifications are likely more reflective of the spectrum of disease severity encountered in an older patient cohort.