Ossification of the Triradiate Cartilage and Posterior Acetabulum

PURPOSE@#This study attempts to evaluate the skeletal maturation patterns of the triradiate cartilage (TRC) and the posterior acetabular wall (PA), which can be easily assessed on body computerized tomography (CT). It also examines the effect of gender and age on ossification of both TRC and PA.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#This retrospective study included a total of 1324 CT scans for children between the ages of 6 and 16 years. Depending on the extent of ossification in each right or left aspect, determined by the consensus of two observers, the TRC and PA scans were categorized into Grades 4 and 3, respectively.@*RESULTS@#The TRC for boys began to ossify at age 10 and closed completely at 14, while the PA for boys started ossification at age 11 and entirely fused at 13. The ages of ossification center appearance and complete fusion in both TRC and PA for girls were exactly two years earlier than boys. The TRC fused within one year after the closure of the PA.@*CONCLUSION@#The appearance and closure of the TRC and PA ossification centers show predictable patterns of development, appearance and merger earlier in females than in males. The suggestion is that development and morphogenesis of both TRC and PA ossification centers can be adequately assessed by using 3-dimensional body CT.

Correlation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Arthroscopic Finding in Internal Deranement of the Knee

We selected one hundred magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in knees of patients with internal derangement of the knee, in all of those cases, arthroscopic operations were performed. Twenty medical doctors, who didnt know the arthroscopic findings, reviewed these MRI; 5 radiology specialists, 5 radiology residents, 5 orthopedic surgeons and 5 orthopedic residents. The radiologists were not informed about the medical history and physical examination of the patients when they read the MRI, but the orthopedic surgeons had the information about those of the patients. The accuracy of reading of MRI was compared between radiologists and orthopedic surgeons, and between specialists and residents. The check-list of the reading were medial and lateral meniscus, ACL and PCL, medial synovial plica and osteochondral lesion. Overall results of accuracy of MRI reading were as follows; radiology specialist-86%-, radiology resident-77%-, orthopedic surgeon-90%- and orthopedic resident-84%-. So accuracy was superior in orthopedic group and specialist group. The medical history and the physical examination of the patients were very helpful to improve accuracy of MRI reading. Reading skill was also important for accurate reading of MRI.