Lateral Compartment Arthritis eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Degenerative joint disease can affect any or all of the compartments of the knee joint. This article addresses arthrosis that is localized to the lateral compartment of the knee. The typical radiographic signs that are associated with degenerative joint disease consist of narrowing of the joint space, subchondral cyst formation, bone sclerosis, and hypertrophic osteophytic spurring (Altman et al, 1987; Gresham and Rathey, 1975). Lateral compartment arthrosis is encountered less frequently than a genu varum deformity because the medial joint compartment of the knee is most commonly affected by degenerative changes, followed by the patellofemoral and lateral compartments (Johnson and Bodell, 1981).
Synonyms and related keywords: degenerative joint disease, knee arthrosis, gonarthrosis, genu valgum
Bal & Upadhyay 2007