Extract
Question: Is malalignment associated with the development of
osteoarthritis of the knee?Design: Cohort population-based study.Setting: Rotterdam, The Netherlands.Patients: 1501 participants (3002 knees) =55 years of age (mean
age, 66 y; 60% women) were randomly selected from 3585 participants who
completed 6.6 years of follow-up. Of the 3002 knees, 2664 had legible
radiographs.Assessment of risk factors: Knees were categorized as having normal
alignment (medial angle formed by the femur and tibia [FT angle] = 182° to
184°), varus alignment (FT angle <182°), or valgus alignment (FT
angle >184°).