Association Among Peripatellar Fat Pad Edema and Related Patellofemoral Maltracking Parameters: a Case-control Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Overview

Journal BMC Musculoskelet Disord

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Orthopedics
Physiology

Date 2023 Aug 25

PMID 37626375

Authors

Liangjing Lyu

Yongliang Li

Jingyu Zhong

Weiwu Yao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The peripatellar fat pads are critical for protective cushioning during movement, and their endocrine function has been shown to affect osteoarthritis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently used to visualize edema of the peripatellar fat pads due to injury. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between peripatellar fat pad edema and patellofemoral maltracking MRI parameters and investigate the association among cases of peripatellar fat pad edema.

Methods: Age- and sex-matched peripatellar fat pad edema cases were identified and divided into superolateral Hoffa, quadriceps, and prefemoral groups. Images were assessed according to tibial tuberosity lateralization, trochlear dysplasia, patellar alta, patellar tilt, and bisect offset. McNemar's test or paired t-tests and Spearman's correlation were used for statistical analysis. Interobserver agreement was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient.

Results: Of 1210 MRI scans, 50, 68, and 42 cases were in the superolateral Hoffa, quadriceps, and prefemoral groups, respectively. Subjects with superolateral Hoffa fat pad edema had a lower lateral trochlear inclination (p = 0.028), higher Insall-Salvati (p < 0.001) and modified Insall-Salvati (p = 0.021) ratios, and lower patellotrochlear index (p < 0.001) than controls. The prefemoral group had a lower lateral trochlear inclination (p = 0.014) and higher Insall-Salvati (p < 0.001) and modified Insall-Salvati (p = 0.004) ratios compared with the control group. In contrast, the patellotrochlear index (p = 0.001) was lower. Mean patellar tilt angle (p = 0.019) and mean bisect offset (p = 0.005) were significantly different between cases and controls. The quadriceps group showed no association. Superolateral Hoffa was positively correlated with prefemoral (p < 0.001, r = 0.408) and negatively correlated with quadriceps (p < 0.001, r = -0.500) fat pad edema.

Conclusions: Superolateral Hoffa and prefemoral fat pad edemas were associated with patellar maltracking parameters. Quadriceps fat pad edema and maltracking parameters were not associated. Superolateral Hoffa fat pad edema was positively correlated with prefemoral and negatively correlated with quadriceps fat pad edema.

Citing Articles

A machine learning-based radiomics approach for differentiating patellofemoral osteoarthritis from non-patellofemoral osteoarthritis using Q-Dixon MRI.

Lyu L, Ren J, Lu W, Zhong J, Song Y, Li Y Front Sports Act Living. 2025; 7:1535519.

PMID: 39896989 PMC: 11782249. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1535519.

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