Lyon Schuss Research Articles

Correlation of tibiofemoral joint-space width with the clinico-radiological scoring of knee osteoarthritis – a comparison between anteroposterior and lyon-schuss radiographic views

Background The degree of joint space narrowing measured on radiographs provide a reliable estimate of the extent and severity of Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. While the standing antero-posterior (AP) view radiographs have been used traditionally, recent studies suggest that the Lyon-Schuss (LS) view is able to detect early OA changes better. The present study was, therefore, conducted to make an objective comparison between the two views with respect to their corelation with the patient's clinical and radiological scores. Methods Forty patients (80 knees) were included in this cross-sectional study. Medial as well as lateral tibiofemoral joint space widths (JSW) were measured using vernier callipers on printed, calibrated radiographic images. Knee Society Score (Function) (KSS-F) was used as the clinical outcome measure while Ahlbäck grade was used for determining radiological severity. JSW was correlated with KSS-F and the Ahlbäck grade using Spearman's rho correlation coefficient. Reproducibility of the method was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Results Average age of the participants was 60 ± 7.65 (range 50–78) years, with 18 males and 22 females. ICC for intraobserver reliability was 0.97 and for inter-observer reliability, was 0.91 (AP view) and 0.92 (LS view), respectively. Medial JSW measurements taken on the AP view were found to have a significantly higher degree of correlation with both KSS-F and Ahlbäck grade ( p < 0.05) than those obtained from the LS view. Conclusion Although the LS view may be more sensitive for detecting early OA changes in knee, particularly in the lateral tibiofemoral compartment, the present study shows that AP view correlates better with the patient's overall clinical and radiological profile.

Comparative study between isolated medial meniscus root repair versus open-wedge high tibial osteotomy versus combined approach in patients with root tears, 2-year follow-up

Background Medial meniscus root tears usually lead to loss of hoop tension of the meniscus and result in high-contact pressure in the medial compartment of the knee. Surgical management of those types of tears is mandatory to restore hope tension and to save medial compartment. This study was done to evaluate the necessity of medial root repair with high tibial osteotomy (HTO) for treatment of medial meniscus root tears. Patients and methods This is a prospective comparative study over 60 patients with medial meniscal root tears. The patients were classified randomly into three groups. The first group (group A) was treated with isolated medial meniscus posterior root tear repair (n=20). The second group (group B) was treated with isolated open-wedge high HTO (n=20). The third group (group C) was treated using combined medial meniscal root repair with high tibial open-wedge osteotomy (n=20). A clinical evaluation was made using range of motion (ROM) and pain assessment. Functional evaluation was done using Lysholm score and Hospital for Special Surgery score. Radiological evaluation was done using follow-up standing Lyon–Schuss films. Results Regarding the patients’ reported outcome measures, one-way analysis of variance was calculated to compare means between the three groups. The results of isolated root repair were the worst and there was no statistically significant difference between groups B and C. Conclusion Results recommend isolated HTO as a solo fast-attack procedure with reliable durable clinical and radiological outcomes for the treatment of root tears of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.

X-ray evaluation of failed unicompartmental knee replacement

TECHNIQUE The Lyon Schuss view (an anteroposterior weight-bearing radiograph taken with the knee in 20–30 degrees flexion) offers greater accuracy in determining moderate to severe loss of joint space compared with the standard weight-bearing view with the knee fully extended3,4. This is particularly so in lateral compartment arthritis where the pattern of disease is different, ie the posterior part of the compartment is affected. Corresponding appearances of the same joint with a AP valgus stress view (Fig 1a) and Lyon Schuss view (Fig 1b) are seen in the adjoining figure. Use of the Lyon Schuss radiographic views when evaluating causes of failed UKR has not previously been described.

Osteoarthritis may not be a one-way-road of cartilage loss – comparison of spatial patterns of cartilage change between osteoarthritic and healthy knees

To explore whether longitudinal change in cartilage thickness in femorotibial subregions of knees with radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) differs from that in healthy knees. 3T coronal magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired in 152 women at seven clinical centers at baseline (BL) and 24 months. Knees from 75 women with signs of ROA in either anterior-posterior or Lyon schuss radiographs were compared with those from 77 asymptomatic healthy controls without ROA to identify knees showing greater change in cartilage thickness than expected based on observations in healthy knees. The femorotibial cartilage thickness was determined in BL and follow-up MR images across five tibial and three femoral subregions in the medial/lateral compartment, respectively. A substantial portion of knees with ROA were classified as having longitudinal cartilage thinning (28%) or thickening (20%) in at least one medial femorotibial subregion based on comparisons to longitudinal changes observed in healthy knees; only 5% showed both subregional thinning and thickening across (different) medial subregions at the same time. Whereas the estimated proportion of Kellgren Lawrence grade (KLG) 3 knees (n=28) with significant medial cartilage thinning (46%) was substantially greater than that with cartilage thickening (18%), the estimated percentages of KLG2 knees (n=30) with significant medial thinning (20%) and thickening (23%) were similar. This exploratory study indicates that OA may not be a one-way-road of cartilage loss. Subregional analysis suggests that, compared with healthy knees, cartilage changes in ROA may occur in both directions. Medial femorotibial cartilage thickening was observed as frequently as cartilage thinning in KLG2 knees.

Relation of regional articular cartilage morphometry and meniscal position by MRI to joint space width in knee radiographs

To ascertain the contribution of articular cartilage morphometry and meniscal position on MRI to joint space width (JSW) measured in the Lyon schuss radiograph of the knee. 62 obese women with knee OA and 99 non-obese female controls (mean age 56.6 years) were imaged using 3T MRI and coronal water excitation spoiled gradient echo sequences. Segmentation of femorotibial cartilage morphology and regional morphometric analysis was performed using custom software. Meniscal position was measured quantitatively in sagittal and coronal planes. Minimum space width (mJSW) was measured in the Lyon Schuss knee radiograph; Kellgren and Lawrence grades (KLG) were assigned on standing anteroposterior knee films. The relative contribution of regional cartilage thickness and meniscal position to mJSW was assessed initially in univariate models and subsequently with multivariable modelling. 65% of the variation in mJSW was explained by regional cartilage thickness measures, different KLG and meniscal coverage. Of these measures the medial tibia cartilage thickness measures and central region of the central medial femur (ccMF) play a consistent role in variations in mJSW observed across all KLG. Further ccMF and the addition of percent meniscal coverage to this model explains the remaining differences in mean mJSW found between those subjects with definite joint space narrowing (KLG3) and those without OA. The variation in radiographic mJSW is best described by five regional cartilage thickness measures and percent meniscal coverage. The magnitude of each measures contribution differs according to radiographic severity with more variability explained by cartilage thickness of ccMF cartilage thickness and percent meniscal coverage with more severe disease.

Subregional femorotibial cartilage morphology in women – comparison between healthy controls and participants with different grades of radiographic knee osteoarthritis

To identify subregional differences in femorotibial cartilage morphology between healthy controls and women with different grades of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). 158 women aged > or =40 years were studied. Weight-bearing extended anterior-posterior (AP) and Lyon schuss radiographs were obtained and the Kellgren Lawrence grade (KLG) determined. 97 women had a body mass index (BMI)< or =28, no symptoms, and were AP KLG0. 61 women had a BMI> or =30, symptoms in the target knee, and mild (KLG2=31) to moderate (KLG3=30) medial femorotibial radiographic OA in the AP views. Coronal spoiled gradient echo water excitation sequences were acquired at 3.0 Tesla. Total plate and regional measures of cartilage morphology of the weight-bearing femorotibial joint were quantified. KLG2 participants displayed, on average, thicker cartilage than healthy controls in the medial femorotibial compartment (particularly anterior subregion of the medial tibia (MT) and peripheral [external, internal] subregions of the medial femur), and in the lateral femur. KLG3 participants displayed significantly thinner cartilage than KLG0 participants in the medial weight-bearing femur (central subregion), in the external subregion of the MT, and in the internal subregion of the lateral tibia. These differences were generally unaffected when possible effects of demographic covariates were considered. The results indicate that in femorotibial OA regional cartilage thickening and thinning may occur, dependent on the (radiographic) disease status of the joint. These changes appear to display a heterogeneous spatial pattern, where certain subregions are more strongly affected than others.

Change in regional cartilage morphology and joint space width in osteoarthritis participants versus healthy controls: a multicentre study using 3.0 Tesla MRI and Lyon–Schuss radiography

Objective:Cartilage morphology displays sensitivity to change in osteoarthritis (OA) with quantitative MRI (qMRI). However, (sub)regional cartilage thickness change at 3.0 Tesla (T) has not been directly compared with radiographic progression...

Progressive increase in body mass index is not associated with a progressive increase in joint space narrowing in obese women with osteoarthritis of the knee

Objective:Given that obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, a study was undertaken to determine whether progressively higher body mass index (BMI) among obese women is...

Protective effects of licofelone, a 5-lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, versus naproxen on cartilage loss in knee osteoarthritis: a first multicentre clinical trial using quantitative MRI

Objective:In a multicentre study to explore the effects of licofelone as a disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug in comparison with naproxen in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), using MRI and x-ray examination.Methods:Patients...

Performance of a non-fluoroscopically assisted substitute for the Lyon schuss knee radiograph: quality and reproducibility of positioning and sensitivity to joint space narrowing in osteoarthritic knees

This study evaluated the longitudinal performance of a modified Lyon schuss (LS) knee examination in the detection of radiographic joint space narrowing (JSN) in knees with osteoarthritis (OA). The modified LS exam entails two to four iterative acquisitions with empirically adjusted angulation of the X-ray beam to achieve superimposition of the anterior and posterior margins of the medial tibial plateau (MTP), a marker of parallel radioanatomic alignment that the original LS exam achieves with fluoroscopically guided beam angulation. Seventy-four obese women with symptomatic knee OA underwent LS and fixed-flexion (FF, caudal 10 degrees beam angulation) X-ray exams at baseline and 1 year later. For 47 subjects, beam angulation for both LS exams was guided by fluoroscopy. For 27 subjects, the modified LS exam was performed at one or both times. Modified and original LS procedures were evaluated relative to concurrent FF radiographs with respect to the inter-margin distance (IMD) at the MTP midpoint (quality and reproducibility of alignment) and sensitivity to JSN. Compared to FF radiographs, modified LS radiographs afforded a smaller mean IMD at baseline (0.89 vs 2.06 mm, P=0.002), more reproducible IMD (mean change=0.49 vs 0.91 mm, P=0.007) and more rapid JSN (mean=0.25 vs 0.02 mm/yr, P=0.005). These differences paralleled those observed between original LS and FF procedures with respect to baseline alignment (0.96 vs 1.94 mm, P<0.001), reproducibility of alignment (0.49 vs 1.00 mm, P<0.001) and sensitivity to JSN (0.16 vs -0.01 mm/yr, P=0.007). In clinical centers where the absence of fluoroscopy equipment precludes use of the original LS protocol, a modified procedure employing iterative, empirical adjustment of the beam angle to achieve parallel radioanatomic alignment with the MTP affords a degree of superiority over the FF protocol with respect to quality and reproducibility of positioning and sensitivity to JSN in OA knees similar to that of the original.

Head-to-head comparison of the Lyon Schuss and fixed flexion radiographic techniques. Long-term reproducibility in normal knees and sensitivity to change in osteoarthritic knees

Objective:The Lyon Schuss (LS) and fixed flexion (FF) views of the knee are superior to a conventional standing anteroposterior view in evaluating joint space narrowing (JSN) in osteoarthritis (OA). Both...

Which radiographic techniques should we use for research and clinical practice?

Based upon published data, the different methods of imaging the knee joint are evaluated with respect to the radiographic procedure and anatomical structures recorded in: (1) images from radiographs of the tibiofemoral joint that have been obtained from the non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing extended knee views and the standardized knee flexion positions using fluoroscopy (semi-flexed and Lyon Schuss views) and non-fluoroscopic methods (MTP and fixed flexion); and (2) images from radiographs of the patellofemoral joint obtained from the lateral and the different axial views of the joint. Non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing radiographs of the knee in extension were found to be of limited value in assessing disease status, whereas all standing flexed knee positions reliably imaged joint space width and bone changes in the tibiofemoral joint. Fluoroscopic positioning of the joint is more demanding on equipment and personnel than non-fluoroscopic methods. Skyline rather than lateral views of the patellofemoral joint were better at detecting joint changes in osteoarthritis. It is concluded that for both clinical practice and research purposes the non-fluoroscopic MTP and fixed flexion methods are recommended for imaging the tibiofemoral compartment, and the standing skyline view is recommended for the patellofemoral joint.

Selection of knee radiographs for trials of structure‐modifying drugs in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A prospective, longitudinal study of lyon schuss knee radiographs with the definition of adequate alignment of the medial tibial plateau

The quality of medial tibial plateau (MTP) alignment, which is assessed by measuring the distance between the anterior and posterior margins (intermargin distance [IMD]) of the tibial plateau, and the reproducibility of alignment in serial radiographs are suggested to be key elements in determining the accuracy and sensitivity to change in knee radiographs in patients with tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (OA). We evaluated the influence of both MTP alignment and radiograph superimposition on the sensitivity to change in radiographic joint space narrowing (JSN) in knee OA. The study group comprised 106 patients with knee pain (73 with OA). Lyon schuss radiographic images of the knee were obtained twice (at baseline [month 0] and 12 months later), using a standardized radiographic procedure. Computerized measurement of the IMD for the assessment of MTP alignment was compared with the grading of MTP alignment by 2 observers using a 5-point scale (excellent, good, fair, poor, bad). To obtain the rate of JSN, computerized measurement of the joint space width was performed at month 0 and month 12. The sensitivity of the joint space width to change over 1 year was evaluated by the standardized response mean (SRM). The mean (+/-SD) IMD was 1.2 +/- 0.9 mm. The correlation between scoring and computer measurement of MTP alignment was highly significant. The cutoff value for satisfactory alignment (excellent or good) was an IMD of </=1.2 mm. In OA knees, the mean (+/-SD) annual rate of JSN and the SRM were statistically higher in knees with an IMD of </=1.2 mm at both month 0 and month 12 (0.34 +/- 0.50 mm and 0.68, respectively) than in knees with an IMD of >1.2 mm at month 0 and/or month 12. The quality of MTP alignment at both baseline and the end point highly influences the sensitivity to change in radiographic JSN in knee OA. To obtain relevant data, only radiographs showing an IMD of </=1.2 mm at both baseline and the end point would have to be analyzed in studies of structure-modifying OA drugs.

Influence of the quality of tibial plateau alignment on the reproducibility of computer joint space measurement from Lyon schuss radiographic views of the knee in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Rationale The quality of medial tibial plateau (MT-Plateau) alignment is one of the key elements for accuracy and sensitivity to change of knee radiography in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Aim To evaluate the influence of the quality of the MT-Plateau alignment on the reproducibility of joint space width (JSW) measurement in knee radiographs. Methods One hundred and twenty-seven knee radiographs (99 OA), performed using a standardized radiographic procedure (Lyon schuss (LS) view). • Evaluation of the quality of MT-Plateau alignment. • Computerized measurement of the JSW, twice, 1-month apart, using a semi-automated and an automated method of measurement. • Assessment of the reproducibility of repeated measurements: calculation of intra-observer coefficient of correlation, smallest detectable difference (SDD) and coefficient of variation (CV). Results MT-Plateau alignment was satisfactory in 99 radiographs (77.9%). Reproducibility was excellent in both satisfactory and non-satisfactory radiographs, irrespective of the method of measurement used. The automated measurement was more reproducible than the semi-automated one (CV 1.15% and 3.23%). SDD and CV were better in satisfactory than in non-satisfactory MT-Plateau aligned radiographs. Conclusion These results confirm that computer measurement of the medial tibio-femoral JSW, from LS digitized radiographs, is highly reproducible, irrespective of the quality of the radiograph. However, the quality of the MT-Plateau alignment influences the reproducibility of JSW measurement. The automated measurement was more reproducible than the semi-automated one.