Osteoarthritis of the knee is a very common degenerative arthropathy, especially among the elderly, but also present in young adults, as a consequence of overweight and strenuous work or sports activity; this primary form is distinguished from the secondary form, resulting from other pathologies involving the articular surfaces of the knee such as fracture outcomes, osteonecrosis, infections, and femoral, tibial, and patellar malformations.
Among the commonly used imaging techniques, the most effective in the evaluation of knee osteoarthritis are MRI and conventional radiology: both provide a wealth of information and highlight various pathological features affecting cartilage, joint spaces, and subchondral bone. A recent review compared the data obtained from preoperative X-ray and MRI examinations with the results of arthroscopic examinations, performed at Outside Facilities, over a period of about five years, to evaluate the reliability of these imaging techniques, in predicting the actual severity of observed knee osteoarthritis.