Biomedical subjects

G R Auleley

Publications and source records attributed to G R Auleley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Influence of medial meniscectomy on tibiofemoral joint space width.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of partial medial meniscectomy on tibiofemoral joint space width (JSW). DESIGN: Thirty-seven patients (mean age: 51 years), suffering from medial meniscal lesions, (post-traumatic (n=22) or degenerative (n=15)), and requiring arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, were enrolled in a prospective, controlled study. Bilateral weight-bearing radiographs in extended and flexed position were performed in the same Radiology Unit just before and 2 days after meniscectomy. During arthroscopy, the extent of meniscectomy was evaluated in percentage and medial chondropathy was quantified using the Société Française d'Arthroscopie (SFA) scoring system (SFA score: 0-100). Medial chondropathy was absent or mild (mean SFA score: 8+/-13). Meniscectomy removed an average of 61% of the posterior third of the medial meniscus, 51% of the middle third and 22% of the anterior third. Radiographs, before and after meniscectomy, were read singly and were analyzed by a single reader unaware of patient identity and date of radiographs. Medial JSW was measured at the narrowest point of the medial compartment using a 0.1mm graduated magnifying glass. RESULTS: Comparison of JSW before and after meniscectomy did not show any statistically significant difference (mm): 0.01+/-0.43 (p=0.83) and -0.05+/-0.56 (p=0.66) in the extended and flexed views, respectively. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that partial medial meniscectomy does not influence tibiofemoral JSW on weight-bearing X-rays. Consequently, joint space narrowing appearing after partial meniscectomy should lead to seeking postmeniscectomy cartilage degradation rather than being attributed to removal of the meniscus.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Measurement of joint space width in hip osteoarthritis: influence of joint positioning and radiographic procedure.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the influence of patient positioning and radiographic procedure, and defined a smallest detectable difference (SDD) in hip osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: OA hip patients each had a standardized pelvic radiograph and, 5 min later, a modified pelvic radiograph with the feet internally rotated 5 degrees (part 1 of the study), the X-ray beam centred on the umbilicus (part 2), or another standardized pelvic radiograph (part 3). RESULTS: Corresponding mean differences in joint space width (JSW) measurements (limits of agreement) between views were +0.03 (-0.53 to +0.59), -0.31 (-1.15 to +0.53) and -0.02 (-0.48 to +0.44) mm. The two views differed significantly in mean JSW in part 2 of the study (P=1.6x10(-4)), but not in part 1 (P=0.375) and part 3 (P=0.580). The SDD estimate was 0.46 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Modifying the X-ray beam and foot rotation increases variability in JSW measurements. Use of urograms to evaluate radiological progression should be avoided. A change greater than 0.46 mm could define radiological hip OA progression.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Effect of multifaceted intervention promoting early switch from intravenous to oral acetaminophen for postoperative pain: controlled, prospective, before and after study.

PROBLEM: Need to improve the efficiency of postoperative pain management by early switching from intravenous to oral acetaminophen. DESIGN: Implementation of local guidelines aimed at improving nurses' and doctors' behaviour. A controlled, prospective, before and after study evaluated its impact on appropriateness and costs. BACKGROUND AND SETTING: Orthopaedic surgery department (intervention) and all other surgical departments (control) of a university hospital. Five anaesthetists and 30 nurses of orthopaedic department participated in study. KEY MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT: Reducing number of acetaminophen injections per patient, reducing consumption of acetaminophen injections; cost savings over a one year period. STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT: Multifaceted intervention included a local consensus process, short educational presentation, poster displayed in all nurses' offices, and feedback of practices six months after implementation of guidelines. EFFECTS OF CHANGE: Mean number of acetaminophen injections per patient decreased from 6.81 before intervention to 2.36 six months after. Monthly consumption of acetaminophen injections per 100 patients decreased by 320.9 (95% confidence interval 192.4 to 449.4) in intervention department and remained unchanged in control departments. Annual cost reduction was projected to be pound 15,100. LESSONS LEARNT: Simple and locally implemented guidelines can improve practices and cut costs. Educational interventions can improve professionals' behaviour when they are based on actual working practices, use interactive techniques such as discussion groups, and are associated with other effective implementation strategies.

Acetaminophen↗

PubMed2000

Radiographic assessment of hip osteoarthritis progression: impact of reading procedures for longitudinal studies.

OBJECTIVE: To compare radiographic reading procedures and evaluate their impact on sample size in hip osteoarthritis (OA) longitudinal studies. METHODS: Pelvic radiographs performed twice, three years apart, in 104 patients with hip OA were read by a single reader using the Kellgren and Lawrence system, joint space narrowing scale, and joint space width (JSW). Reading procedures were (a) films read as single radiographs, (b) films grouped by patient but read in random order, (c) films grouped by patient and chronologically ordered, all with landmarks for JSW measurements, (d) films read as single radiographs, without landmarks for JSW measurements. JSW was measured at the narrowest point with a 0.1 mm graduated magnifying glass. RESULTS: More Kellgren and Lawrence or joint space narrowing grades were modified respectively with the single (42% and 37%) than with the paired (32% and 23%) or chronologically ordered (34% and 29%) reading procedures. Variability of JSW progression was principally related to mean progression (88.3%) and landmarks (almost 10%). Standardised response means were -0.71 with the paired reading procedure with landmarks, -0.68 with the single reading procedure with landmarks, -0.65 with the single reading procedure without landmarks. With landmarks, 10% more patients would be needed using single than paired reading. Using single reading, 10% more patients would be needed without landmarks than with landmarks. CONCLUSION: Kellgren and Lawrence grading seems to be influenced by the reading procedure, as is joint space narrowing grading, for assessing hip OA. Paired reading procedure with landmarks for JSW should be recommended in longitudinal studies.

Disease Progression↗

PubMed1999

Assessing smallest detectable change over time in continuous structural outcome measures: application to radiological change in knee osteoarthritis.

Interpreting changes in continuous structural outcome measures is a common problem in clinical research and in daily practice. We propose a method for estimating whether difference observed between two successive measures in an individual constitutes a statistically relevant change or a change induced by variability. This statistically relevant change is based on an analysis of reproducibility. The continuous structural outcome measure investigated as an example was joint space width (JSW) measurement on standard X-rays, which is known to be the primary end-point for assessing structural osteoarthritis progression. The results of the present study demonstrate that cutoffs are closely dependent on all sources of variabilities in JSW measurement such as joint positioning, radiographic procedure, and the measurement process itself. Therefore, we suggest to determine cutoffs for each study using a representative sample of the population studied and using the procedures and methods of measurement of the specific study. This approach may easily be extended to other continuous structural outcome measures.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Capacity of the clinical picture to characterize low back pain relieved by facet joint anesthesia. Proposed criteria to identify patients with painful facet joints.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized study to compare the efficacy of facet joint injection with lidocaine and facet joint injection with saline in two groups of patients with low back pain, with and without clinical criteria that were determined in a previous study to implicate the facet joint as the primary source of the pain. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of single facet joint anesthesia versus placebo (saline injections) and to determine clinical criteria that are predictive of significant relief of LBP after injection. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There is no syndrome that discriminates between lower back pain caused by facet joint and that caused by other structures. Single or double facet joint anesthesia, and single photon emission computed tomography are expensive and time-consuming procedures for selecting patients in controlled clinical trials with large populations. METHODS: Results of a previous study showed that seven clinical characteristics were more frequent in patients who responded to facet joint anesthesia than in those who did not. In the current study, a group of 43 patients with lower back pain who met at least five criteria were compared with 37 patients who met fewer criteria. Patients randomly received injection of either lidocaine or saline into the lower facet joints. The result was considered positive if more than 75% pain relief was determined by visual analog scale. The patient, the radiologist, and the investigator were blinded. An analysis of variance was used to seek an interaction between clinical group effect and injection effect, and logistic regression analysis to select the best set of variables that would be predictive of minimum pain relief of 75% after the injection. RESULTS: There was a significant interaction between clinical group and injection effect (P = 0.003). In patients with back pain, lidocaine provided greater lower-back pain relief than saline (P = 0.01). Lidocaine also-provided greater pain relief in the back pain group than in the nonpain group (P = 0.02). The presence of five among seven variables (age greater than 65 years and pain that was not exacerbated by coughing, not worsened by hyperextension, not worsened by forward flexion, not worsened when rising from flexion, not worsened by extension-rotation, and well-relieved by recumbency), always including the last item, distinguished 92% of patients responding to lidocaine injection and 80% of those not responding in the lidocaine group. CONCLUSIONS: A set of five clinical characteristics can be used in randomized studies to select lower back pain that will be well relieved by facet joint anesthesia. These characteristics should not, however, be considered as definite diagnostic criteria of lower back pain originating from facet joints.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Validation of the Ottawa ankle rules in France: a study in the surgical emergency department of a teaching hospital.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To validate the Ottawa ankle rules to predict fractures in a French clinical setting when they are used by physicians not involved in their development. METHODS: We used a prospective patient survey by emergency physicians in a surgical emergency department of a university teaching hospital of the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris. The study group consisted of 416 consecutive patients aged 18 years and older who presented with acute ankle or midfoot injuries in the surgical ED during a 4-month period. Radiography was performed in each patient after clinical evaluation findings were recorded. RESULTS: Forty-nine ankle and 22 midfoot fractures were diagnosed. The decision rules had a sensitivity of .98, a specificity of .45, and a negative predictive value of .99 in detecting ankle fractures, a sensitivity of 1.0, a specificity of .29, and a negative predictive value of 1.0 in detecting midfoot fractures. The rules failed to predict one avulsion fracture in the ankle group. Application of these rules by emergency physicians would have reduced ankle or midfoot radiography requests by 33%. CONCLUSION: Use of the Ottawa ankle rules by French emergency physicians not involved in the rules' development resulted in 99% sensitivity and had a potential of reducing radiography requests by 33%.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Variability in knee radiographing: implication for definition of radiological progression in medial knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To assess reproducibility of medial knee joint space width (JSW) measurement in healthy subjects and osteoarthritic (OA) patients. (2) To define minimal relevant radiological change in knee JSW based on the reproducibility of its measurement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: (1) Healthy volunteers: in the first part of the study, 20 knees of healthy adult volunteers were radiographed in the weightbearing, anteroposterior extended view, twice, two weeks apart, using three different radiographic procedures: (a) without guidelines, (b) with guidelines and without fluoroscopy, (c) with guidelines and fluoroscopy. (2) Knee OA patients: in the second part of the study, 36 knees of OA patients were radiographed twice with guidelines and without fluoroscopy. JSW was measured blindly using a graduated magnifying glass. Based on the Bland and Altman graphic approach, cut off points defining minimal relevant radiological change are proposed. RESULTS: Standard deviation (SD) of differences in JSW measurement between two sets of knee radiographs in healthy subjects were 0.66 mm for radiography performed without guidelines, 0.37 mm for radiography performed with guidelines and without fluoroscopy, and 0.31 mm for radiography with guidelines and fluoroscopy. SD of differences in JSW measurement in OA patients were 0.32 mm for radiography performed with guidelines and without fluoroscopy. A minimal relevant change in JSW between two radiographs performed in healthy subjects can be defined by a change of at least 1.29 or 0.59 mm when radiographs are taken without guidelines, and with guidelines and fluoroscopy, respectively. When radiographs are taken with guidelines and without fluoroscopy, the change must be at least 0.73 mm. A similar figure, 0.64 mm was observed in knee OA patients. CONCLUSION: Definition of radiological progression varies greatly according to the radiographic procedure chosen. Use of guidelines reduces the threshold of progression required to consider that change between two measures is relevant.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Osteoarthritis of the hip: agreement between joint space width measurements on standing and supine conventional radiographs.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of standing position on joint space width (JSW) measurements of the hips with and without osteoarthritis (OA) on pelvic radiographs. METHODS: Adult patients aged 18 or more had pelvic anteroposterior conventional radiographs standing and supine performed by a single radiologist in the same radiology unit according to standardised guidelines. JSW measurements in mm were made by a single reader blind to patients' identity and type of view, using a 0.1 mm graduated magnifying glass directly laid over the radiograph, at the narrowest point for OA hips or at the vertical joint space for non-OA hips. Agreement of JSW between both views was assessed using the Bland and Altman graphical analysis. RESULTS: JSW was greater on standing than supine radiographs, for example, 7.1% for OA hips. Mean (SD) differences and limits of agreement (mm) between both views were 0.08 (0.27) and -0.46 to 0.62 for the 70 non-OA hips, 0.02 (0.31) and -0.60 to 0.64 for the 46 OA hips. Corresponding 95% confidence intervals of mean difference were 0.02, -0.14 mm and -0.07, -0.11 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of JSW of the hip on pelvic standing and supine radiographs are concordant. Changes less than or equal to 0.64 mm between the two views are similar or inferior to radiological progression of OA.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Quantitative MR imaging evaluation of chondropathy in osteoarthritic knees.

PURPOSE: To determine the validity and the reliability of T1-weighted three-dimensional gradient-echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for quantification of articular cartilage abnormalities of osteoarthritic knees. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients (mean age, 63 years) with knee osteoarthritis (American College of Rheumatology criteria) of the medial tibiofemoral compartment underwent a prospective, cross-sectional study. Knees were examined with a T1-weighted three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence (1.4-mm contiguous sections), with use of a 0.2-T dedicated MR unit, before arthroscopic exploration. The tibiofemoral articular cartilage abnormalities were quantified blindly on both the MR and arthroscopic images with the French Society of Arthroscopy (SFA) score (0-100) and grading scheme (five grades). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant correlation between the SFA-arthroscopic score and the SFA-MR score (r = .83) and between the SFA-arthroscopic grade and the SFA-MR grade (weighted kappa = 0.84). The deepest cartilage lesions graded with arthroscopy and MR imaging showed correlation in the medial femoral condyle (weighted kappa = 0.83) and in the medial tibial plateau (weighted kappa = 0.84). The intraobserver reliability of the SFA-MR score was higher (r = .94) than the interobserver reliability (r = .80). CONCLUSION: Quantification of chondropathy with MR imaging is feasible and well correlated with anatomic cartilage breakdown.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Piroxicam therapy: a double blind, randomized, multicenter study comparing 2 versus 4 week treatment in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis with effusion.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of piroxicam 20 mg once a day for 14 or 28 days in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and synovial effusion. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double blind study in 1905 outpatients. Efficacy was assessed by changes in synovial effusion, pain on a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS), and impairment using Lequesne's functional index. Patients were classified at Day 28 as improved (defined as VAS and Lequesne index decrease of at least 30% from Day 14), worsened (defined as VAS and Lequesne index increase of at least 30% from Day 14), or unchanged. Safety was assessed on the basis of adverse events reported by the patients. RESULTS: After 14 days, changes in pain, synovial effusion, and functional impairment significantly decreased from baseline within each group (p < 0.001, respectively), but did not differ between the groups. Between 14 and 28 days, outcome measure changes were significantly better in the 28 day group, p = 0.01, 0.0001, and 0.0001, respectively. In the 28 day and 14 day groups, improvement with regard to pain was observed for 339 (52.4%) and 280 (29.4%) patients, respectively, (p < 0.0001), and with regard to functional impairment for 298 (31.5%) and 233 (24.3%) patients (p < 0.0001). Adverse events accounted for 7.5 and 6.7% of withdrawals in the 28 day and 14 day groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: When administration of piroxicam 20 mg is prolonged to 28 days, continuing benefit is observed for some patients with knee OA with painful synovial effusion without a significant difference in safety.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Implementation of the Ottawa ankle rules in France. A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of the implementation of the Ottawa ankle rules on radiography requests in French hospitals during a 5-month intervention period and the impact of using posters alone to sustain the effect of the rules during a 5-month postintervention period. DESIGN: Multicenter randomized controlled trial preceded and followed by observational studies of radiological practices. SETTING: The emergency departments of 5 Paris university teaching hospitals of the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris. PATIENTS: A total of 2218, 1911, and 851 patients-all aged 18 years and older-who were seen for acute ankle or midfoot injuries in emergency departments during preintervention, intervention, and postintervention periods, respectively. INTERVENTION: Implementation of the Ottawa ankle rules by emergency department physicians in the intervention hospitals (using meetings, posters, pocket cards, and data forms). During the postintervention period, posters alone were used to sustain the intervention effect. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Percentage of patients for whom radiography was requested. RESULTS: During the preintervention period, 98% and 98.5% of patients were referred for radiography in the intervention and control groups, respectively. During the intervention period, the mean proportions of patients referred for radiography by physicians was 78.9% in the intervention group and 99% in the control group (P=.03). Between preintervention and intervention periods, a relative reduction of 22.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19.8%-24.9%) in radiography requests was observed in the intervention group, while requests increased by 0.5% (95% CI, 0%-1.4%) in the control group. During the postintervention period, the proportion of radiography requests in the intervention hospitals was lower than the proportion observed in the preintervention period (83.1% vs 98%). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the Ottawa ankle rules significantly reduced radiography requests in French hospitals. Using a minimal postintervention implementation strategy, the effect of this intervention decreased but persisted after it was discontinued.

Ankle Injuries↗

PubMed1997

Effect of psoas training on postmenopausal lumbar bone loss: a 3-year follow-up study.

The present study completed a previous randomized trial that demonstrated the protective effect of 1-year psoas training on lumbar bone loss in postmenopausal women. Computerized tomography had been carried out at the beginning (CT1) and at the end (CT2) of this trial. In the present study, 67 women having completed the first trial were asked to practice psoas exercises (60 hip flexions in sitting position with a 5 kg weight on the knee) for 2 additional years with a third CT control at the end of this period (CT3). The aim of this complementary study was to assess the compliance rate and long-term effect on bone of daily psoas muscle training over a longer period. Twenty-one women performed this daily psoas training for 3 years from CT1 to CT3, and 14 acted as controls during the same period. Fourteen women were controls during the first year (from CT1 to CT2) but practiced psoas training during the following 2 years (from CT2 to CT3). Four women were psoas trained during the first year (from CT1 to CT2) and subsequently crossed over to the control group for the last 2 years. The compliance rate was 42%, with an attendance rate of 88%. The lumbar bone loss was lower in the 21 women trained over the 3 years (-3.26 +/- 28.45 mg/cm3) than in the 14 untrained women (-16.79 +/- 8.51 mg/cm3) (P = 0.02). The bone loss was not significantly reduced between the two periods of the study in the 12 women having been controls from CT1 to CT2 and having crossed over to the active training group from CT2 to CT3. Psoas training may be effective against lumbar bone loss. We conclude that specific training may play a contributing role in the preventive strategy to avoid osteoporosis.

Anthropometry↗

PubMed1996

[Causes and evolutive profiles of osteoarthrosis].

In osteoarthritis, risk factors, clinical expression and outcome are greatly heterogeneous. This heterogeneity is observed not only from one subject to another but depends also on the site of osteoarthritis. Risk factors are not necessarily the same as those marking a worse prognosis. For these factors, general risk factors influencing or marking a generalized predisposition to the condition and local risk factors resulting on abnormal biomechanical loading at specific joint sites must be distinguished.

Humans↗

PubMed1996

Knee joint space width measurement: an experimental study of the influence of radiographic procedure and joint positioning.

We studied the influence of the radiographic procedure and joint positioning on knee joint space width (JSW) in 10 healthy volunteers, and the intrareader reproducibility of JSW measurements on radiographs performed 2 weeks apart using a standardized procedure. Results show that a 5 or 10 downward inclination of the X-ray beam and 15 or 30 of induced external foot rotation significantly reduced JSW. In contrast, knee flexion increased JSW. The mean differences and S.D. in the measurement of JSW between two sets of radiographs taken 2 weeks apart were not statistically significant, ranging from -0.07 mm (S.D. 0.38) to 0.020 mm (S.D. 0.38). Our findings indicate that modifications in knee flexion, foot rotation and X-ray beam inclination influence JSW. Therefore, standardization of joint positioning and of the radiographic procedure is necessary to obtain comparable radiographic images on successive X-rays.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Forceful epidural injections for the treatment of lumbosciatic pain with post-operative lumbar spinal fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of forceful epidural corticosteroid injections in lumbosciatic pain ascribed to post-operative lumbar spinal fibrosis. METHOD: Randomized controlled study comparing forceful injections via the sacral hiatus of 125 mg prednisolone acetate + 40 ml saline (treatment group) and injections via the same route of 125 mg prednisolone acetate alone (control group). Results were compared after six and 18 months. The main evaluation criterion was a subjective assessment of overall efficacy done by the patient using a seven-level scale. RESULTS: After six months, the proportion of patients who were relieved of their sciatica was significantly higher in the forceful injection group (n = 29; 45%) than in the control group (n = 31; 19%) (p = 0.03). Success rates for low back pain were 29% and 6% in the forceful injection and control groups, respectively. Among secondary efficacy criteria, nerve root pain evaluated on a visual analog scale and by Schöber's index showed significantly greater improvement in the forceful injection group than in the control group. After 18 months, results were still in favor of the forceful injection group, with success rates of 39% for the sciatica and 31% for the low back pain. The proportion of patients who returned to work was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although mediocre overall, the results of forceful epidural corticosteroid injections are better than those of simple epidural injections of a corticosteroid alone. Given the paucity of effective treatments for lumbosciatic pain apparently due to postoperative fibrosis, forceful injections should be given a place in the treatment of this condition.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Assessment of joint space width in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a comparison of 4 measuring instruments.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intra and interobserver reproducibility of 4 measuring instruments for assessing joint space width in knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to estimate the effects of patients, instrument, session order, and reader variation. METHODS: We studied 30 patients with unilateral tibiofemoral OA selected to represent a broad range of radiographic changes. Joint space width (JSW) was measured on plain anteroposterior weight bearing radiographs. Using an experimental design, 3 readers assessed JSW 3 times with 4 measuring instruments (ruler, caliper, graduated magnifying glass, digitized assessment). RESULTS: Intra and interobserver reproducibility was high with all measuring instruments (intraclass correlation coefficients from 0.95 to 0.98 and from 0.91 to 0.97, respectively). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a patient effect (p < 10(-6)), a reader effect (p = 0.0001), an instrument effect (p = 0.0001), and a session order effect (p = 0.04). The variance component estimates were patients 55%, readers 34%, session order 2%, instruments 8%. ANOVA performed separately for each instrument showed that session order differences always represented less than 1% of the total variance. The reader component accounted for 0% of the total variance for the ruler, 2% for the digitized method, 16% for the caliper, and 18% for the graduated magnifying glass. CONCLUSION: Ruler and digitized assessment have better reliability than caliper and graduated magnifying glass.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1996

Radiographic assessment of knee osteoarthritis: reproducibility and sensitivity to change.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cross sectional and longitudinal reproducibility of various measures used for assessing radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to compare the sensitivity to change over a one year period of these measures. METHODS: We studied 55 patients referred to hospital with knee OA (clinical and radiographic ACR criteria). Anteroposterior radiographs at baseline and after 12 months were read by methods both qualitative (Kellgren and Lawrence grading scale, joint space narrowing scale) and quantitative (joint space width measurement at 3 different points). All qualitative methods used standardized atlases. The intraclass correlation coefficient and the graphical method of Bland and Altman were used to assess cross sectional and longitudinal reproducibility. Reproducibility was tested using 2 readers (interreader) and 2 readings for one of the readers (intrareader). Sensitivity to change was assessed using standardized response mean (SRM). RESULTS: All methods tested were shown to be reproducible both for cross sectional and longitudinal data. Intrareader was higher than interreader reproducibility for most radiographic features. Significant changes were observed after one year for methods measuring joint space narrowing. The sensitivity to change of the methods assessing joint space narrowing (joint space narrowing scale and joint space width measurement) was higher, with SRM varying from 0.37 to 0.57, than for the Kellgren and Lawrence grading system (SRM 0.19 and 0.23). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that methods measuring narrowing should be preferred as outcome measures in clinical trials or longitudinal epidemiologic studies; and show that in a particular subset of patients with very active disease, significant radiographic changes in knee OA can be detected after a one year period.

Aged↗