title: Patellotibial contusions in anterior cruciate ligament tears.
abstract: Bone contusions are an important ancillary finding of many knee injuries. Not only are they a source of pain, they may suggest a mechanism of injury or a specific derangement of the knee joint. We have encountered a small number of patients being evaluated for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears with unexplained patellar and tibial edema at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. We present three individuals with contusions of the inferior patella with a corresponding contusion of the anteromedial tibial plateau. Internal derangements in these patients were similar to other individuals with acute ACL tears, however osseous contusions were more widespread. In conclusion, patellotibial contusions are rare and may indicate an injury with forces greater than usually encountered in most ACL tears. A careful search for uncommon associated injuries is prudent in these high-energy knee injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 234 Goodman Street Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267-0761, USA, robert.wissman@uchealth.com.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Wissman
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: England
authors.forename: Kaushal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nepute
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Von Fischer
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Apgar
authors.forename: Ariyan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Javadi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D003288:Contusions / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010329:Patella / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D013977:Tibia / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*
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