Evolution of Femoral Condylar Ossification at MR Imaging: Frequency and Patient Age Distribution

Abstract

Ossification variability in the femoral condyles is common in children and should not be confused with abnormal processes.

Imaging Appearances of Musculoskeletal Developmental Variants in the Pediatric Population

“…In nearly all cases, it occurs posteriorly and is more common on the medial femoral condyle. 10 Radiographs may demonstrate irregularity of the femoral condyle, with mixed lucency and sclerosis. This is often best demonstrated on tunnel radiographs of the knee, as this projection provides better visualization of the posterosuperior articular surfaces of the femoral condyles (Fig.…”

“…7). 10 The presence of intact overlying cartilage and the absence of bone marrow edema help to differentiate this entity from osteochondritis dissecans (Fig. 8).…”

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Pediatric Knee

“…In the absence of adjacent bone marrow edema, these developmental variations should not be mistaken for osteochondritis dissecans. 1,3,5,6 TRAUMA Unlike adults who are more likely to suffer from ligamentous and meniscal injuries, trauma in children and adolescents characteristically involves the physis and adjacent bones, which are the weakest link in skeletally immature patients. Thus the pediatric knee is susceptible to multiple types of fractures in addition to chronic repetitive stress injuries.…”

“…contusions") is not always associated with an ACL tear in pediatric patients, owing to normal ligamentous laxity. 6,9,10 In even younger patients, the same mechanism of injury produces tibial spine avulsion fractures rather than ACL tears, 7,8 especially if the intercondylar notch is wide. 11 Type I tibial spine avulsion fractures are, at most, minimally displaced and are managed conservatively.…”

Highlights of the scientific meeting of the 18th Annual Congress of the European Society of Skeletal Radiology (ESSR) 2011

“…Knowledge of these lesions can prevent misdiagnosis of an osteochondral defect [2]. On a similar theme of normal variants, the different ossification patterns encountered in the femoral condyles of children and adolescents were described [3]. These lesions should not be confused with pathological processes such osteo-chondritis dissecans, a topic that was also discussed by Professor Klaus Bohndorf in the Founders lecture at the ISS meeting in San Diego, 2011.…”