Diagnosis of Knee Joint Osteoarthritis by Bioelectrical Impedance Plethysmography

Abstract

AbstractDiagnosis of knee joint osteoarthritis (KJO) at early stages can prolong the progression of disabling degenerative ailments. Mostly, diagnosis of KJO is based on patient complaints about difficulty with locomotion and is clinically diagnosed based on gait and features. Classical radiographic and MRI images further validated the presence of KJO. Due to the economic and limited accessibility of the above services in India and neighboring countries, a large number of patients with KJO continue to suffer without a diagnosis. There is a need to develop a cost-effective, quick, simple, non-invasive, and reliable diagnostic technique for the onset of KJO. The present study aims to monitor the conductivity changes and impedance fluctuations using an electrical impedance plethysmograph. Impedance fluctuations recorded in normal and osteoarthritis patients showed marked differences. The analysis of these records can identify early damage to the joint.