Relationship Between Constitutional Varus Knee and Patellofemoral Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to research on the relationship between constitutional varus knee and patellofemoral pain. The standardized standing whole-lower-extremity radiographs, the knee lateral view and skyline view of the participants will be taken. The hip-knee-ankle angle will be obtained from the radiographs. According to the hip-knee-ankle angle, the knees will be labelled knee varus or knee nonvarus. The knee varus incidences of the two groups will be determined and compared.

Detailed Description
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The patellofemoral joint will be assessed in the skyline view and lateral view. The hip-knee-ankle angle will be obtained from the standing whole-lower-extremity radiographs. According to the hip-knee-ankle angle, the knees will be labelled knee varus or knee nonvarus. The knee varus incidences of the two groups will be determined and compared. It is hypothesized that constitutional varus knee is a risk factor for patellofemoral pain.

Official Title
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Research on the Relationship Between Constitutional Varus Knee and Patellofemoral Pain

Conditions
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Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: No intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patellofemoral pain during physical activities such as running, jumping, squatting, and going up or down stairs for at least 4 weeks. The onset of pain is required to be atraumatic in nature. Exhibit two of the following clinical criteria on assessment: pain on direct compression of the patella against the femoral condyles with the knee in full extension, tenderness of the posterior surface of the patell on palpation, pain on resisted knee extension, and pain with isometric quadriceps muscle contraction against suprapatellar resistance with the knee in 15° of flexion. Negative findings in the examination of knee ligaments, menisci, bursae, synovial plicae, Hoffa's fat pad, iliotibial band, and the hamstring, quadriceps, and patellar tendons and their insertions. Exclusion Criteria: With patellofemoral instability, or With other knee diagnoses. Any previous surgery or severe trauma in the affected limb. Inflammatory joint disease or tumors in the affected limb.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| The study group<br>The participants with patellofemoral pain. | Other: No intervention<br>* The standardized standing whole-lower-extremity radiographs, the knee lateral view and skyline view of the participants will be taken.<br>|
| The control group<br>The participants without patellofemoral pain. | Other: No intervention<br>* The standardized standing whole-lower-extremity radiographs, the knee lateral view and skyline view of the participants will be taken.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The hip-knee-ankle angle | The HKA angle was determined by measuring the angle between the mechanical axis of the femur and the mechanical axis of the tibia. | 1 day | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patellar alignment | The lateral displacement of the patella was defined as the proportion of the distance from the lateral edge of the patella to a line drawn perpendicular to a line passing along the most anterior margin of the medial and lateral trochlear facets, by the length of the maximum width of the patella. The tilting angle of the patella was defined as the angle formed by a line joining the maximum width of the patella and a line passing along the most anterior margin of the medial and lateral trochlear facets. | 1 day | 
| The width of of the patellofemoral joint space | The width of the joint space at the mid-point of the medial and lateral patellofemoral joint is measured on the skyline view. | 1 day | 
| Trochlear morphology | The sulcus angle was defined as the angle between the medial and lateral trochlear facets. The vertex of the angle was the deepest portion of the trochlea. | 1 day | 
| Patellar height | The Insall-Salvati ratio is the ratio between the length of the patellar tendon and the superior-inferior length of the patella. | 1 day | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Anterior Knee Pain, Knee Varus