[Marginal osteophytes as a radiological and clinical indicator of patellofemoral arthrosis (author's transl)].

Radiological and pathological comparisons carried out on patellae at autopsy have shown a statistical relationship between the size of marginal patellar osteophytes and radiologically invisible ulceration of the joint cartilage. Patellar osteophytes greater than 2 mm. show a 100% association with cartilage ulcers. The detritus originating from the ulcerated cartilage is a potent irritant of the synovial membrane. The radiological demonstration of marginal patellar osteophytes therefore provides evidence concerning the severity of the arthrosis; the larger the patellar marginal osteophytes, the greater is the need for treatment of the painful arthrosis. The lateral and upper margins of the patella are the sites of predelection for the osteophytes. The medial patellar facet is the site of predelection for the cartilagenous ulcers.