title: Knee morphometric and alignment measurements with MR imaging in young adults with central cartilage lesions of the patella and trochlea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to assess whether common measurements of patellar and trochlear morphology and patellar alignment are associated with central cartilage lesions of the patella and trochlea using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The MRI examinations of 58 patients (38 women, 20 men; mean age, 28.59 years [range: 19-35 years]) with central cartilage lesions of the patella and trochlea were retrospectively compared to those obtained in 102 control subjects (57 women, 45 men; mean age, 27.05 years [range: 20-35 years]). Patients had Modified Noyes Classification grade IIA, IIB or III cartilage defects whereas control subjects had normal MRI examination of the knee as determined by two radiologists. Patellar measurements of facet asymmetry, patellar tilt, lateral patellofemoral angle, Insall-Salvati ratio, and patellotrochlear cartilage overlap were performed in patients and control subjects along with trochlear measurements of the trochlear depth and width, and sulcal angle. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age and body mass index was used to assess associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of the lengths of the medial to lateral facets of the patella (OR=2.7×10-3; P<0.001), angle of the median eminence of the patella (OR=1.05; P=0.040), lateral patellofemoral angle (OR=0.91; P=0.048), Insall-Salvati ratio (OR=364.4; P<0.001) and edema in the superolateral aspect of Hoffa's fat pad (OR=6.52; P<0.001) were significantly associated with central cartilage lesions of the patella and trochlea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Central cartilage lesions of the patellofemoral joint are associated with patellar and trochlear morphology, and patellar alignment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, 19104 Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: ronnie.sebro@uphs.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sebro
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, 19104 Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weintraub
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010329:Patella / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bone imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Patella; Patellofemoral joint; Trochlea