الفهرس 
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Abstract
Osteoarthritis of knee affects 12.1% of the adult population in the United States. This is a common disease with significant functional impairment, impaired quality of life for the patient and a social cost. It is the second reason for consultation in rheumatology in Saharan Africa and the first location of osteoarthritis in the lower limbs.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the radiological findings of knee osteoarthritis with the functional scoring of disability, pain and stiffness.
Our study was an observational, cross sectional study included 50 patients diagnosed as osteoarthritis of knees, recuirted from outpatients clinic in rheumatology and rehabilitation department of Sohag University Hospitals
The mean age of our study group was 51.44±11.8 (26-82) years. The majority of our study population were females (72%). The mean disease duration of our cases was nearly 2±1.6 (0.25-7) years.
Comparing WOMAC and K&L scores between both sides, we found that, although the WOMAC score is always mildly higher in the left side compared to the right side, the disease was more or less symmetrical in nearly all of our cases, with non significant differences.
Comparing WOMAC and K&L scores between both sexes, we found that, although females suffer higher WOMAC and higher K&L scores, the difference was non significant. Age was always positively and significantly correlated to disease severity both by WOMAC and K&L scores. Disease duration was always positively and significantly correlated to disease severity both by WOMAC and K&L scores.
We found that there is moderate and highly significant correlations between K&L score and all of the WOMAC items separately and collectively, and this was constant over the two knees. This means that we can predict K&L score from WOMAC score.
Using linear regression analysis, we found that, we can predict the K&L score without doing imaging of the patient, but only from the WOMAC score. The predicted K&L score can be calculated from the WOMAC score as follows:
- For the right knee : K&L score = 0.327 + (WOMAC x 0.047)
- For the left knee : K&L score = 0.003 + (WOMAC x 0.053)
Conclusion
Both the KL grade and WOMAC score are directly proportional to each other and hence, WOMAC scoring can be used to diagnose osteoarthritis in poor developing countries where there are limited resources. The WOMAC scoring can also be used for assessing the progression of the disease and the response to treatment. WOMAC scoring can also diagnose cases in early stages when only cartilage damage has occurred; this allows early intervention and better control of osteoarthritis.