Tricompartmental Arthrosis Definition and Characteristics

Anatomical Components and Radiographic Features

• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons defines tricompartmental arthrosis as a degenerative joint disease affecting all three compartments of the knee, characterized by joint space narrowing, osteophyte formation, subchondral sclerosis, and cyst formation across the entire joint 1
• The medial tibiofemoral compartment bears 70-80% of joint load during gait and is the most frequently affected compartment 2, 3

Clinical Significance and Treatment

• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for tricompartmental degenerative changes, as demonstrated in their clinical practice guideline case example 1
• The presence of tricompartmental disease has important treatment implications, and distinction from unicompartmental disease is crucial for appropriate management 1, 4

Risk Factors

• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons states that age, obesity, trauma, genetic predisposition, and occupational factors increase the risk of developing tricompartmental arthrosis 1, 5