Asymmetry of Ossification and Rate of Growth of Long Bones in Children with Unilateral Juvenile Gonarthritis

Abstract

Summary Ten cases of unilateral gonarthritis as part of J.R.A. are described from a clinical and roentgenological point of view. The serious consequences for the future knee function, with complicating subluxation of the tibia, valgity, and secondary degenerative arthritis in inadequately treated cases, are pointed out. Conventional judgement of radiographs of gonarthritis taken in early stages are of limited value because of the slight and insignificant changes. Estimation of epiphyseal size according to the method described revealed an overgrowth of arthritic femoral epiphysis of 10—47 per cent and of the patella of more than 20 per cent, together with an elongation of the arthritic leg of 1—2 cm. after 4—6 months of disease though the X-ray picture was still almost normal. Further investigations on a larger material in order to evaluate the influence of age, duration and character of the disease on the X-ray changes are being carried out.