Standing radiographs are useful for evaluating joint space in knees with osteoarthritis (OA). However, ordinary methods such as hemi-foot standing ar the so-called Rosenberg method have several problems. We therefore developed a new method, in which an anteroposterior radiograph is taken with both knees at about twenty-six-degree flexion.
In this study, the joint space angle (JSA) and femorotibial angle (FTA) which were measured by means of the new method were compared with those by ordinary methods. Values of JSA and FTA were more or less the same between the hemi-foot and bilateral feet. Bilateral feet achieved stable lower extremities position compared with the hemi-feet. Radiographs with the knee flexion were more sensitive for evaluating JSA than those in full extension. We concluded that this method is reliable and sensitive in assessing the degree of OA.
