Help interpreting knee X-ray results?

Hello everyone. About six months ago, I underwent surgery to reconstruct my ACL and repair my medial meniscus. I just had an X-ray done ahead of my follow-up appointment in a few days, and I was wondering if anyone could help me make sense of these results;

Initial subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces in the medial compartment of the tibiofemoral joint, which appears to be a sign of localized stress or overloading.
Early-stage osteoarthritis present in the patellofemoral joint.
A fabella located within the dorsal soft tissues.

rustyowl4 said:Hello everyone. About six months ago, I underwent surgery to reconstruct my ACL and repair my medial meniscus. I just had an X-ray done ahead of my follow-up appointment in a few days, and I was wondering if anyone could help me make sense of these results;

Initial subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces in the medial compartment of the tibiofemoral joint, which appears to be a sign of localized stress or overloading.
Early-stage osteoarthritis present in the patellofemoral joint.
A fabella located within the dorsal soft tissues.

It is quite difficult to interpret this properly without seeing your previous scans for comparison.
Essentially, this suggests some early degenerative changes—wear and tear on the bone and cartilage—which isn't particularly surprising given the nature of the initial injury that tore the ligament in the first place.

I went ahead and uploaded these recent photos just so you could get a decent, ballpark idea of the current condition.

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rustyowl4 As stated by:
I have attached those recent photos—just so you can try to get an approximate sense of the current condition.

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The imaging shows some subchondral sclerosis medially—specifically along the lower tibia—as well as some patellofemoral osteoarthritis. It’s important to note that these changes are just early signs; we aren't looking at an advanced stage yet.
Without knowing if these levels were the same six months ago—it’s a bit like trying to judge a stock trend without seeing last quarter's closing price—it is difficult to determine if this result is an improvement or a decline. You will really need to discuss this with your doctor during your follow-up—since they are the ones who have your previous medical history on hand.

X-rays don't show the meniscus or ligaments—something you likely already know—but they simply aren't designed for that kind of detail.

Ultimately, what matters most is how you’re feeling after physical therapy—specifically whether that knee feels more mobile or if there's still pain during movement. An X-ray is really just a tool for monitoring—a way to ensure we aren't seeing any further progression of changes that have already occurred (which, much like a dent in a car bumper, likely won't just disappear—once cartilage is damaged, it's incredibly difficult to restore).

Could someone please help me make sense of this medical finding? It says:
Z47.0 - Aftercare involving removal of plates or other internal fixation devices for fractures
Scheduled for surgical treatment on January 25th.

On a side note, I had a hip fracture about two years ago that required surgery. Everything seemed perfectly fine until about two months ago when this unbearable pain started. I’ve had to go back to using both crutches; the surgery was on my right hip, but lately, my right knee has been giving me the most trouble—it feels like it's swelling up, and sometimes it just gives out under me, causing me to collapse while using my crutches. To make matters worse, I’m dealing with daily nausea, and all I’ve been taking are the medications my primary care physician prescribed. Honestly, I’m terrified to even leave my apartment to see him because I’m falling two or three times a day. I’ve ended up with quite a few bruises from these falls, and I even hit my head on the edge of the bathtub. They did run a CT scan on my head, and they told me everything looked normal, but my leg just won't obey me and the pain is constant. What exactly are they planning to do to me during that procedure on January 25th? I’m just looking for some clarity—could someone explain this in plain English? I want to know what the truth is and how long the recovery process usually takes. I would truly appreciate any insight you all can offer to help me understand what's happening.
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Could someone please help me make sense of this X-ray report from my knee scan? It says here:

"Sharpening of the lateral tubercle on the intercondylar eminence"

What does that actually mean in plain English—and more importantly—what kind of treatment am I looking at? Is surgery on the table... or can I avoid it? I'm 55 years old.

Thanks in advance!

So, I went to see a radiologist a few days ago and finally got my results back.

" ... The visualized bone structures show normal shape and mineral density. Early signs of osteoarthritis are visible in the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joint surfaces, and the joint space in the former appears slightly narrowed on the medial side."

Can anyone make sense of this?