title: Cartilage status in knees with recurrent patellar instability using magnetic resonance imaging T2 relaxation time value.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to analyse the patellar status in patients with recurrent patellar instability and in healthy controls using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirteen patients with patellar instability (patellar instability group) and 50 healthy controls (control group) were studied. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) to measure the patellofemoral joint anatomy. Meanwhile, MRI was used to investigate cartilage status and to determine the T2 relaxation time value of the patellar cartilage plate. The mean values of these parameters for the patellar instability group and the control group were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CT images of the patellar instability group revealed greatly abnormal anatomy of the patellofemoral joint compared with the control group. By MRI assessment, 32 patients were determined to have a cartilage defect, which was confirmed under arthroscopy. Among the other 81 patients, the T2 relaxation time value of the patellar instability group was significantly higher than that of the control group on the middle (p = 0.032) or medial sites (p = 0.041) of the patellar cartilage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patellar instability group exhibits a higher risk of cartilage lesions with abnormal patellofemoral joint anatomy. MRI may enable early detection of these cartilage defects within the patellofemoral joint, enabling clinicians to adopt strategies to delay or prevent cartilage degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Xinhua Hospital, 1665# Kongjiang Rd, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Xinhua Hospital, 1665# Kongjiang Rd, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: De
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Xinhua Hospital, 1665# Kongjiang Rd, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Xinhua Hospital, 1665# Kongjiang Rd, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hanlong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Xinhua Hospital, 1665# Kongjiang Rd, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Xinhua Hospital, 1665# Kongjiang Rd, Shanghai, 200092, People's Republic of China. shwangjianhua@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D057071:Patellofemoral Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012008:Recurrence; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed