Diagnostic study, Level III.

No abstract

It may be very difficult to diagnose the pathology in patients with anterior knee pain. Patients with chronic anterior knee pain have been reviewed for the study. Our aim was to delineate the presence of subtle trochlear dysplasia by measuring lateral trochlear inclination (LTI) in axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. While there were 109 knees in the study group with anterior knee pain (AKP), control group consisted of 74 knees without AKP. The LTI measurements were performed at the level of proximal cartilaginous area of trochlear groove in axial scans. The condition was termed to be trochlear dysplasia when LTI was below 11 masculine. Parameters in both groups were statistically analyzed and compared for their association with LTI. There was no significant difference between LTI values of male and female subjects in each group. The mean LTI values in anterior knee pain and control groups were 17.32 masculine and 21.5 masculine, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The ratio of knees with trochlear dysplasia was 16.5% in AKP group, which was only 2.7% in control. In the AKP group, the ratio of trochlear dysplasia was significantly high (P < 0.05). Although trochlear dysplasia has been generally detected in cases with patellar instability, this study revealed that the frequency of this finding in patients with other causes of anterior knee pain was also considerably high. Measurement of lateral trochlear inclination in axial MRI scans with radiologic assessment seems to be a valuable diagnostic criterion, especially in patients in whom etiology of anterior knee pain could not be identified.

No abstract

Central patellar (CP) portal is an accessory portal in arthroscopic knee surgery, which generally is considered to be safe. In this cross sectional study, we aimed to delineate the clinical and radiological outcome of patellar tendon (PT) and Hoffa's fat pad after the use of this approach. From our hospital records, patients who underwent arthroscopy via CP portal were identified and were invited for the study. There were16 men and 4 women with a mean age of 32 years. Mean follow-up time was 28 months. Meniscectomy had been performed for irreparable bucket-handle type medial meniscal tears in all patients. At the latest follow-up, no patients had anterior knee pain and physical examination was normal. Mean PT thickness of operated knees measured with Ultrasonography was 5.63+/-1.56, while it was 3.76+/-0.46 mm in contralateral knees and the difference was significant. Contour irregularity of PT and focal hypoechoic areas were found in 17 patients, two of which also had hyperechogenic calcification focuses. Abnormal signal intensity of PT was also found in 17 patients with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Eleven of these had decreased signal intensity within the tendon which was interpreted as fibrosis. In six patients, increased signal intensity, radiologically similar to chronic tendinitis, was detected. Four patients had decreased signal intensity in the Hoffa's fat pad. Local fibrous tissues in patellar tendon might cause weakness in the tendon. This study showed that although CP portal did not cause any clinical problems in a low demand group of patients, it leads to a significant radiological sequela in the tendon, biomechanical significance of which needs to be clarified.