Computerized axial tomography in investigations of the rheumatoid knee.

It is essential when deciding on the therapeutic approach to the rheumatoid knee--medical or surgical--to make a precise and thorough assessment of the joint situation as a whole. In order to overcome the limitations of traditional X-ray methods, the Authors used computerized axial tomography (C.A.T.) to study the knees of twenty rheumatoid arthritis patients. They analysed three particular sections: the first at the level of the subquadriceps bursa, the second through the femoral condyles, and the third through the proximal tibio-fibular joint. C.A.T. permits an assessment of the conditions of the muscles and any hypertrophy of the synovial membrane; this kind of investigation reveals them clearly. It was possible to make an accurate investigation of the femoro-patellar joint and of lesions involving the femoral condyles and tibial plate. The findings indicate that C.A.T. in the study of the rheumatoid knee provides information on the soft tissues that cannot be obtained by traditional radiological methods. It also shows with greater precision the extent and morphology of bone lesions to the joint heads, an extremely important question in planning the use of prostheses.