title: MRI demonstration of occult purely chondral fractures of the tibia: a potential mimic of meniscal tears.
abstract: We report the case of a 12-year-old boy with bilateral, purely chondral fractures of the tibia. The patient had Crohn's disease treated with systemic corticosteroids. MR images of the knee were initially interpreted to show a bucket-handle tear of the lateral meniscus. However, arthroscopic evaluation revealed purely chondral fractures of the tibial plateau without meniscal damage. Re-evaluation of the MR study identified the chondral fracture of the lateral tibial articular cartilage detected arthroscopically. This purely chondral fracture of the tibial plateau represented a rare finding in the symptomatic knee that mimicked a meniscal tear by history, physical exam, and MR imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jaramillo
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hresko
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones