Spatiotemporal and kinematic gait analysis in patients with knee osteoarthritis and femoral varus deformity

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is commonly combined with the presentation of a coronal deformity of the knee. The bony origin of the knee varus deformity can be classified as tibial origin, femoral origin, or a com-bination of tibial and femoral causes. Deformities of tibial origin are mostly common clinically, while patients with knee OA with femoral varus deformity are less common.Research question: Do hip, knee and ankle kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters differ between patients with knee OA with femoral varus deformity and healthy subjects?Methods: Twenty-five patients (14 females and 11 males) with knee OA and femoral varus deformity and 20 healthy subjects (12 males and 8 females) as control group were included in this study. The kinematic parameters of the hip-knee-ankle joint and spatiotemporal gait parameters were included in the study.Results: This study found that the step speed and step length of the knee OA with femoral varus (KOAF) group were smaller than those of the control group, while double support period percentage was greater in the KOAF group. Significant differences were found in the maximum knee extension angle, maximum knee flexion angle, knee flexion range of motion, maximum hip flexion angle, maximum hip extension angle, and hip flexion range of motion between the two groups. After comparing the ankle motion between the two groups, significant dif-ferences were found in the maximum eversion angle, inversion range of motion, maximum ankle abduction angle, and abduction range of motion.Significance: Knee OA with femoral varus deformity causes adaptive changes in the kinematic parameters of hip, knee and ankle joints and spatiotemporal gait parameters to alleviate symptoms and maintain normal activity.

Automated summary

This study compared the differences in hip, knee, and ankle kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters between patients with knee varus deformity and healthy subjects. The results showed significant differences in gait speed, step length, and double support period between the two groups. There were also significant differences in the range of motion of the knee and hip joints, but not in the ankle joint. Knee varus deformity causes adaptive changes in the kinematic parameters of the hip, knee, and ankle joints to alleviate symptoms and maintain normal activity.