There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
To identify the methods used in population-based epidemiological studies to diagnose
radiographic foot osteoarthritis (OA) and to estimate the population prevalence of
radiographic foot OA.
Electronic databases searched included Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Ageline (inception
to May 2009). The search strategy combined search terms for radiography, OA, foot,
and specific foot joints. Predetermined selection criteria were applied. Data extracted
from each paper included: sample population, radiographic views taken, foot joints
examined, scoring system used, definition of OA applied, reliability of radiographic
scoring and prevalence of radiographic OA in the foot.
Titles and abstracts of 1035 papers were reviewed and full-texts of 21 papers were
obtained. Fifteen papers met inclusion criteria and a further 12 papers were included
after screening references. Radiographic views were frequently not specified (NS)
but a combination of antero-posterior (AP) and lateral (Lat) views was most commonly
reported. The first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint was the most commonly examined
joint (n=20, 74%). Nineteen studies (70%) used the Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) grading
system, 95% of which defined OA as K&L grade> or =2. Estimates of the prevalence of
radiographic first MTP joint OA (defined as K&L> or =2) in middle-aged to older adults
ranged from 6.3 to 39%. Significant statistical heterogeneity prevented pooling of
prevalence estimates.
There are comparatively few studies examining radiographic foot OA. Existing studies
mainly focus on the first MTP joint and use the K&L grading system. Future studies
are needed to quantify the prevalence of radiographic OA at the different joint complexes
within the foot.
Copyright 2010 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier
Ltd. All rights reserved.