MRI Analysis of the Physiological Patellofemoral Joint Morphology of Adult Knees

Overview

Journal Skeletal Radiol

Specialties Orthopedics
Radiology

Date 2024 Sep 24

PMID 39316123

Authors

Marc-Pascal Meier

Yara Hochrein

Mark-Tilmann Seitz

Paul Jonathan Roch

Katharina Jackle

Ali Seif Amir Hosseini

Wolfgang Lehmann

Thelonius Hawellek

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine physiological reference values for the morphology of the patella and to analyse these parameters according to patella position in healthy knee joints.

Material And Methods: Healthy knee joints of 409 patients (mean age, 52.3 years [± 16.8]) were analysed retrospectively on MRI images for Insall-Salvati index (ISI), sagittal patella thickness (PTS) and patella length (PLS) as well as axial patella thickness (PTA) and patella width (PWA). Differences between patellar diameters were analysed depending on ISI, side, age and gender.

Results: Mean PTS was 20.1 mm (± 2.4), PLS 44.0 mm (± 4.4), PTA 21.8 mm (± 2.4) and PWA 44.5 mm (± 4.7). Depending on the vertical patellar position (ISI), all patellar parameters (p < 0.01) showed significant differences between patients with a patella alta, norma and baja. In general, a smaller ISI showed higher measured values for the patellar parameters. There were no significant differences for the laterality. Only PTS showed a significant age difference (p = 0.031). All parameters were significantly larger in male compared to female knees (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Reference parameters for the patella morphology are reported. Concluding from the results, a relationship between vertical patellar position and patellar morphology seems to exist. This finding should be taken into account in diagnostics and therapy of patella disorders.

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