Ahlbäck classification of knee osteoarthritis
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Mudgal P, Knipe H, Babu V, et al. Ahlbäck classification of knee osteoarthritis. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 13 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-27069
rID:
27069
Article created:
19 Jan 2014,
Prashant Mudgal
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Prashant Mudgal had no recorded disclosures.
View Prashant Mudgal's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Revisions:
14 times, by
8 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Ahlback classification (knee osteoarthritis)
- Ahlbäck system for the osteoarthritis of knee joint
- Ahlbäck systems for the osteoarthritis of knee joint
- Ahlbäck classification of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
The Ahlbäck classification is one of many ways to grade knee osteoarthritis.
Usage
The Ahlbäck classification is in common use (c. 2012) in both clinical and research settings 2.
Classification
grade 1: joint space narrowing (<3 mm)
grade 2: joint space obliteration
grade 3: minor bone attrition (0-5 mm)
grade 4: moderate bone attrition (5-10 mm)
grade 5: severe bone attrition (>10 mm)
History and etymology
This classification was proposed by Ahlbäck et al. in 1968 3.
See also
References
- 1. Petersson I, Boegård T, Saxne T, Silman A, Svensson B. Radiographic Osteoarthritis of the Knee Classified by the Ahlbäck and Kellgren & Lawrence Systems for the Tibiofemoral Joint in People Aged 35-54 Years with Chronic Knee Pain. Ann Rheum Dis. 1997;56(8):493-6. doi:10.1136/ard.56.8.493 - Pubmed
- 2. Hernández-Vaquero D & Fernández-Carreira J. Relationship Between Radiological Grading and Clinical Status in Knee Osteoarthritis. A Multicentric Study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012;13(1):194. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-13-194 - Pubmed
- 3. Ahlbäck S. Osteoarthrosis of the Knee. A Radiographic Investigation. Acta Radiol Diagn (Stockh). 1968;:Suppl 277:7-72. - Pubmed
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