Plantar compartments of the foot: MR appearance in cadavers and diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the plantar compartments of the foot on magnetic resonance (MR) images.


METHODS
The plantar compartments of four cadaveric feet underwent MR imaging and were sectioned. Fifteen MR studies in 11 patients with compartmental fluid were evaluated. The epicenter of infection was determined from review of the history, radiographs, and MR images.


RESULTS
In the cadaveric feet, distribution of contrast material conformed to the compartmental anatomic features. MR findings in the specimen correlated exactly with gross findings. All seven feet with infection centered at the second through fourth metatarsal heads demonstrated only central compartment fluid. In seven of eight feet with a more medial or lateral epicenter of infection, fluid was seen in the lateral or medial compartment and in the central compartment. In one foot with a lateral epicenter of infection, fluid was confined to the lateral compartment.


CONCLUSIONS
MR imaging accurately depicts the compartmental anatomic features of the foot.
Goodwin
D W
DW
Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
Salonen
D C
DC
Yu
J S
JS
Brossmann
J
J
Trudell
D J
DJ
Resnick
D L
DL
D002102:Cadaver; D003287:Contrast Media; D003300:Copper; D019327:Copper Sulfate; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000473:pathology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005205:Fascia / Q000473:pathology; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D007482:Iothalamate Meglumine; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008536:Meglumine; D008683:Metatarsophalangeal Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008684:Metatarsus / Q000473:pathology; D008751:Methylene Blue; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000473:pathology; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D003300:Copper; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005780:Gelatin; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D019327:Copper Sulfate; D008751:Methylene Blue; D007482:Iothalamate Meglumine