The Relationship of Quadriceps Angle and Anterior Knee Pain

Abstract

Introduction: Anterior Knee Pain (AKP) is a very common symptom that poses a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Abnormal patellar alignment is described to be one of the causes. A common tool to assess patellar malalignment is the quadriceps angle (Q-angle). Aim: To evaluate the relationship between Q-angle and AKP. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients with AKP were included in this prospective, comparative observational study who qualified the inclusion criteria. Another group consisting of 100 subjects without AKP were kept as control. Along with demographic details, Q-angle was measured in both groups in standing position using universal goniometer and compared using standard statistical tests. Results: A total of 122 knees in 100 cases (52 Females and 48 Males) and 100 knees of 100 control group (50 Female and 50 Male) were evaluated with mean age 25.5 years in case and 25.4 years in control group (p>0.05). The mean duration of AKP was 7.13 months (ranging from 2-24 months). Left knees were involved in 40 cases, right knees in 38 cases and both knees in 22 cases. The mean Q-angle among men, women and all participants in the case group were 15.2°, 20.4° and 17.9° respectively. In the normal control group, the angles were 12.2°, 16.3° and 14.3° respectively. All these difference in case and control group were statistically significant. Conclusion: The individual with AKP have large Q-angle than asymptomatic individual.

Keywords

• patellofemoral mal-alignment
• patellofemoral pain
• q angle