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MRI criteria for patella alta and baja

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Abstract

Objective

To determine the range of the patellar tendon length to patellar length ratio on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee in order to aid in the establishment of MRI criteria for patella alta and baja.

Patients

Two hundred and forty-five patients ages 6–85 (mean 44) years who went through 262 consecutive 1.5 MRI studies of the knee performed during November 2000 through February 2001 were evaluated, regardless of their clinical symptoms.

Design

Patellar length (PL) and patellar tendon length (TL) were measured by a single musculoskeletal radiologist on sagittal images by a line connecting the superior and inferior patellar poles and the shortest length of the inner margin of the tendon respectively. TL/PL ratio was subsequently calculated. The distribution of ratios was evaluated; the extreme 2.5% at each end of the distribution was defined as patella alta and baja.

Results

The TL/PL ratio ranged between 0.56 and 1.71 (mean 1.05). After plotting the ratios, we noted an asymmetric curve skewed to the left. Based upon calculation of the extreme 2.5% of the ratio at each end of the plot, we determined that the MRI definition of patella alta and baja is a ratio of TL/PL of more than 1.50 and less than 0.74 respectively. We found that females had significantly higher TL/PL ratio than males (1.0878 and 1.0032 respectively). Ratios defined for patella alta and baja were 1.52 and 0.79 respectively in females and 1.32 and 0.74 respectively in males (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

Patella alta and baja are determined as TL/PL of more than 1.50 and less than 0.74 respectively, somewhat different than traditionally quoted radiographic and previously described MRI criteria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621, Tel-Hashomer, Israel

    Nogah Shabshin

  2. Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Nogah Shabshin, William B Morrison & Laurence Parker

  3. Department of Radiology, New York University/Hospital for Joint Disease, New York, NY, USA

    Mark E Schweitzer

Authors
  1. Nogah Shabshin
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  2. Mark E Schweitzer
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  3. William B Morrison
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  4. Laurence Parker
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Correspondence to Nogah Shabshin.

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Shabshin, N., Schweitzer, M.E., Morrison, W.B. et al. MRI criteria for patella alta and baja. Skeletal Radiol 33, 445–450 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-004-0794-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-004-0794-6

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