title: Radiographic features of the development of the anterior tibial tuberosity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have evaluated the radiologic characteristics of the development of the anterior tibial tuberosity. This study aimed to evaluate the radiologic characteristics of the anterior tibial tuberosity in a pediatric population broken down into age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 210 plain-film X-rays of the knee from patients aged from 10 to 17 years, divided into groups according to age and sex, for the presence of ossification of the anterior tibial tuberosity, the distance between the anterior tibial tuberosity and the metaphysis, and fusion with the epiphysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 10 years of age, the anterior tibial tuberosity was ossified in 50% of the girls but in only 25% of the boys. In all the girls, the anterior tibial tuberosity was ossified at 11 years, fusion of the anterior tibial tuberosity with the epiphysis had started at 12 years, and fusion was complete by 17 years. In boys, the process is delayed by one year compared to girls. A single center of ossification was found in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ossification of the anterior tibial tuberosity starts distally, then the proximal part fuses with the rest of the epiphysis, and finally the distal part fuses with the tibia. The results of this study help enable a better analysis of the anterior tibial tuberosity in cases of knee pain.
authors.affiliation: Profesor de Ortopedia y Traumatología Pediátrica, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: enriquevergaramd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vergara-Amador
authors.affiliation: Residente de Ortopedia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davalos Herrera
authors.affiliation: Profesora de Radiología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: L Á
authors.initials: LÁ
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Growth plate; Osteochondrosis; Osteocondrosis; Placa de crecimiento; Tibia