The Relationship Between Anatomic Stability of Patellofemoral Joint with Age and Gender: Our Single Center MRI Experience

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: MRI is superior to other radiological diagnostic methods because it does not contain radiation and it can clearly show the patellofemoral joint and surrounding anatomical structures. In our study, we aimed to determine the tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance (TT-TOd) and trochlear groove angle (TOa) values by MRI and determine the differences between genders and age groups in a large patient series. METHODS: 448 patients who applied our radiology clinic between January 2014 and March 2014 and undergone knee MRI scan due to knee pain were included in the study. The patients were divided into four groups as adolescent (13-19 years), young adult (20-35 years), adult (36-64 years) and elderly (65 and over). TT-TOd and TOa measurements were performed on axial MRG images of all patients. RESULTS: The mean TT-TO distance was 14.6 +- 4.7 mm. Among all cases; TT-TO distance was higher in adolescent group compared to young adult, adult and elderly patient groups (p = 0.022; p = 0.009 and p = 0.004, respectively). The mean value for TOa measurement was 145,9 ° +- 9.6. This value was found to be wider in the adolescent male group than in the elderly male group (P = 0.004). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study, we reached a large series of patients and our study is valuable in terms of sampling the current literature and the results that we achieved between age group. We suggest for the adolescent patient group TT-TO distance and TO angle measurements must be considered in daily MRI practice.

Keywords

• patellofemoral joint
• joint instability
• adolescent
• age
• gender