Comparison of Radiographic Changes in Knee Joints between Males and Females in a Tertiary Care Center, Kolkata, West Bengal

Aims and objectives Knee is the most common weight bearing joint in human being during walking. It commonly resists compressive forces produced as a result of transmission of body weight while walking. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a degenerative joint disease producing damage of the articular cartilage, as a result, there is reduction of joint space width, formation of marginal osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, subchondral cyst and lastly loose bodies. Our aim in this study is to compare the imaging results of knee joints between males and females having age of 35 years and above. Methods We took total 544 patients with joint symptoms in our study. Imaging of the affected knee joint was performed in all patients. We divided the male female patients into 8 age groups at an interval of 5 years staring from 35 years of age. Then we compared the radiographic findings, like, reduced joint space, marginal osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, subchondral cyst and loose bodies between both sexes statistically at 95 % confidence interval. Results Females at early and middle age, suffered significantly. Significant number of Females of 35 to 45 years, 51 to 55 years, 61 to 65 years and 66 to 70 years showed reduced joint space, marginal osteophytes, subchondral cyst as well as loose bodies respectively, whereas, in case of more than 75 years of age, significant number of males demoed evidence of marginal osteophytes and subchondral sclerosis. Conclusion There is increase of incidence of osteoarthritis in non-linear fashion. Generally, there was increase incidence of osteoarthritis in females than males. In more than 75 years of age, significant number of males showed early evidence of marginal osteophytes and subchondral sclerosis. Female showed increase incidence of loose bodies in the joints. Significant number of younger females demonstrated the evidence of decreased joint-space width.