Purpose: Post-stroke arthritic changes which may compromise rehabilitation have been described in both limbs of stroke patients. This study is aimed at evaluating the prevalence of soft tissue arthritic changes in both knees of stroke patients by musculoskeletal sonography and to compare these changes with functional outcome. 
Methods: High frequency linear ultrasound (7.5-12MHz) of hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic knees of 52 patients undergoing rehabilitation (1-36 months post stroke) was done at OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Also 26age, sex and body mass index matched subjects (52 knees) without knee disease, knee deformity, trauma or surgery were examined as controls. Muscle tone, power and functional ambulatory category (FAC) were graded following standard technique.
Results: Compared to controls, hemiplegic knees exhibited significantly higher cases of femoral/tibial osteophytotosis, suprapatellar effusion, reduced lateral femoral cartilage thickness and blurred cartilage soft tissue margin. Sonographic arthritic changes showed no significant correlation with FAC, tone and power in the hemiplegic knee. 
Conclusion: In line with other published studies, soft tissue arthritic changes are common in both knees of stroke subjects possibly due to imbalance weight bearing. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation should include detection and management of these changes.

SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF HEMIPLEGIC KNEES OF STROKE SUBJECTS IN A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL