Revealing the role of metaphysio diaphyseal angle and posterior tribal slope in predicting knee osteoarthritis in the south Indian community

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineBACKGROUND: newlineOsteoarthritis (OA) is a common and debilitating disorder that significantly burdens individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. Timely identification is essential for efficient care and enhanced patient outcomes. This cross-sectional comparative study sought to evaluate the efficacy of two morphological parameters, the posterior tibial slope (PTS) and metaphysio-diaphyseal angle (MDA), as diagnostic indicators for osteoarthritis (OA) in the South Indian demographic. newlineMETHODS: newlineA total of 384 participants, comprising 192 individuals with OA and 192 without OA, were randomly selected from the Orthopaedic outpatient departments at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute. Demographic information and radiographic assessments were collected. The severity of OA was graded based on joint space narrowing and the presence of osteophytes using Ahlback grading. newlineRESULTS: newlineThe study revealed that the mean PTS was significantly higher in the OA group (15.980, SD 2.18) compared to the non-OA group (9.780, SD 2.73). Similarly, the mean MDA was significantly greater in the OA group (24.860, SD 4.13) compared to the non-OA group (15.160, SD 4.3). Most participants in the OA group had PTS values between 15-20, while in the non-OA group, the majority had PTS values between 5- newline10. For MDA, most participants in the OA group had values between 20-25 and 25-30, whereas in the non-OA group, the majority had values between 25-30. newlineRegression analysis revealed a moderate linear connection between MDA and PTS (r newline= 0.275, p lt 0.001*). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves illustrated the diagnostic efficacy of PTS, exhibiting a sensitivity of 99.5% and a specificity of 27% at a threshold of 12.060, and MDA, with a sensitivity of 99.5% and a specificity of 71% newlineat a threshold of 19.850. The area under the curve (AUC) for PTS was 0.963, demonstrating exceptional discriminatory power, whereas the AUC for MDA was 0.717, indicating excellent diagnostic competence. newlineCONCLUSION: newlineThis study provides valuable insights into the potential of PTS and MDA as diagnostic markers for OA in the South Indian population. The higher PTS and MDA values observed in OA cases, along with the established sensitivity and specificity, highlight their utility in identifying individuals at risk or in early stages of OA. These findings could lead to improved early detection, personalized interventions, and enhanced healthcare strategies for OA in this specific population. Further research is warranted to validate these markers and their diagnostic significance in larger cohorts. newlineKEYWORDS: newlineOsteoarthritis, Posterior Tibial Slope, Metaphysio-Diaphyseal Angle, Diagnostic Markers, South Indian Population. newline