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MRI evaluation of the development of intercondylar notch width in children

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the development of intercondylar notch width in children using MRI and assesse the relationship between the cruciate ligaments and the width of the intercondylar notch during growth.

Methods

We reviewed MRIs and medical records of 76 children (age range 3.8–16.9) without derangements of the knee. Cases with knee joint instability and/or major trauma were excluded. On a standardized coronal image, measurements of the width of the intercondylar notch, knee, ACL and PCL were performed using image analysis software. The notch width index (NWI), ACL/notch, ACL/knee width, PCL/notch, and PCL/knee width were calculated.

Results

NWI showed statistical correlation with age. The highest values were found in the youngest children, and the lowest in the oldest group. While ACL/knee width, and PCL/knee width ratios remained proportional over time, the ACL/notch, and PCL/notch ratios increased with the age of the patient.

Conclusion

NWI changes with age and decreases from childhood to adolescence. A relative decrease in NWI accounts for an increase in the ACL/notch and PCL/notch ratios with age. Studies about NWI in children should consider age as a cofactor for analysis.

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Conflict of interest

All authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Orthopedics and Pediatric Orthopedics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

    Marcin E. Domzalski

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Marcin E. Domzalski & Peter Gabos

  3. Department of Medical Imaging, Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Marc S. Keller

  4. Department of Radiology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

    Piotr Grzelak

Authors
  1. Marcin E. Domzalski
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  2. Marc S. Keller
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  3. Piotr Grzelak
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  4. Peter Gabos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcin E. Domzalski.

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Domzalski, M.E., Keller, M.S., Grzelak, P. et al. MRI evaluation of the development of intercondylar notch width in children. Surg Radiol Anat 37, 609–615 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1433-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1433-8

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