[Radiological study of painless knees in 50 men over 65 years of age. II. Axial projection and profile radiography (author's transl)].

Radiographs were taken in profile, and femoropatellar axial projection with 60 degrees flexion, in 50 men over 65 years of age who had never complained of symptoms related to their knees. Visible osteophytes of the patella are very frequently noted in profile radiography and were present in 35 subjects. Painless femoropatellar arthrosis is also frequent and this was noted on 60 degrees axial radiography in 7 subjects; unilaterally in 3 cases and bilaterally in 4 subjects. In 9 cases the femoropatellar arthrosis was external, while in 2 cases it was present both externally and internally. Detection of a patellar osteophyte on profile radiography does not necessarily imply the existence of femoropatellar arthrosis detectable radiologically on axial projection. This study was also able to define values for a certain number of the parameters of radiological morphology of the knee.