ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the feasibility of MRI to assist the early diagnosis of midfoot tendon and ligament injuries.Methods:Fifty-two patients with midfoot ligament and tendon injuries who visited Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from September 2016 to December 2021 were enrolled in the study, and 20 healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. All participants underwent mid foot coronal (short axis), sagittal, and axial (long axis) MRI T1 weighted imaging and proton fat suppression sequence examination. The MRI images were evaluated by 2 senior radiologists independently.Results:The consistency of the two radiologists in diagnosis of tendons, ligaments, bones, and soft tissues were good ( κ=0.916, 0.896, and 0.893, respectively). The tendons and ligaments of the midfoot in 20 healthy volunteers (40 feet) showed uniform bands of varying thickness with slightly low signal intensity; the anterior tibial tendon showed a thin line shape, the posterior tibial tendon showed a slightly thick band with uniform low signal intensity, and the calcaneonavicular ligament showed a thin line-like low signal intensity running in different directions. In 52 patients with midfoot tendon and ligament injuries, 18 had anterior tibial tendon injuries, 20 had posterior tibial tendon injuries, and 14 had calcaneonavicular ligament injuries. The injured tendon or ligament was characterized by uneven thickness, blurred edges, and continuous interruption on T1WI sequence, uneven enhancement of signal in the tendon or ligament running area on PD-FS sequence, accumulation of fluid in the tendon sheath, and partial tearing. The partial tear showed discontinuity and thickening of tendons, while the complete tear showed that the tendons were interrupted and retracted, the fiber structure disappeared and was filled with liquid, and the surrounding soft tissue edema was present. Conclusion:MRI can clearly display the course and anatomical structure of the attachment end of the midfoot tendon and ligament, which may assist in early diagnosis of midfoot tendon and ligament injuries.
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Objective:To explore the anatomy and injuries features of the thumb extensor and flexor mechanism with MRI.Methods:Ten healthy subjects without thumb injury and 20 patients with thumb extensor or flexor mechanism injuries were recruited in the study between September 2013 and September 2021. All subjects underwent MRI examination, the MRI features of thumb extensor or flexor mechanism in healthy subjects and patients were analyzed. The imaging findings were compared with the surgical results and confirmed by followed up in patients.Results:The healthy subjects showed homogeneous low-signal-intensity on T1-weighted and proton-fat saturation sequence(PD FS) images. Twenty patients with thumb extensor or flexor mechanism injures(including 8 cases of extensor pollicislongusinjury,1 case of extensor pollicisbrevis injury, 4 cases of flexor pollicislongus injury, 2 cases offlexor pollicis brevis injury and 5casesofpulley injury) demonstrated poor definition in T1WI, and heterogeneously increased signal intensity in PD-FS. Depending on the degree of injury, the fibers may be partially or completely discontinuity of the involved tendons. There was edema in the soft tissues surrounding the injured sites.Conclusion:MRI is an accurate method for evaluation of the anatomy and pathological conditions of the thumb extensor and flexor mechanism.
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Objective:To study the relationship between distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) effusion and the integrity of triangular fibrcarotilage (TFC) in asymptomatic young adults.Methods:Thirty two asymptomatic young adults, 22 males and 10 females with a mean age of 25 year(20-30) were recruited in the study between September 2014 and October 2019. All subjects had no wrist pain, no wrist deformity or wrist mass, and had no history of wrist trauma or surgery. The DRUJ effusion was definedasfluid-like high signal intensityon fatsuppression proton density-weighted MRI.The presence of distal radioulnar joint effusion, the shape of the effusion, and the presence of triangular fibrocartilage abnormalities were documented.Results:Among 32 subjects, 25(78.1%, 15 males and 10 females) presented with distal radioulnar joint effusion on wrist MR images, including linear/tubular in 21 cases(84.0%) and saccular in 4 cases(16.0%).Twenty cases (62.5%) had distal radioulnar joint effusion while the TFC was intact, among whom, the effusion was confined to the proximal side of distal radioulnar jointin 17 cases, and reached the lower surface of TFC in 3 cases. In 5 cases (15.6%) with TFC tear, the effusion reached the lower surface of TFC in 4 cases. There were neutral, positive and negative variations of the ulna in 23, 6 and 3 cases, respectively, among whomthe distal radioulnar effusion was presented in 17, 5, 3 cases, and TFC tear in 1, 4 and 0 cases, respectively.The presence of distal radioulnar effusion was not significantly correlated with genders( P=0.069) or types of ulna variance( P=0.702). Conclusion:The distal radioulnar joint effusion maybe resent in asymptomatic young adults, and it maybe complicated with TFC tear.
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Objective:To explore the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)features of the normal anatomy and injuries of ligaments in the elbow joint.Methods:Thirty-eight healthy volunteers (38 sides) and 82 patients with elbow joint injuries were recruited in the Radiology Department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from February 2019 to February 2022 and the MRI findings were analyzed. The healthy subjects had no history of trauma, elbow joint ligament injury or pain, and the elbow joint function was normal. Among the 82 patients with elbow joint injuries, 8 cases were confirmed by operation and 74 were confirmed by follow-up. The MRI characteristics of normal anatomy and injuries of the medial collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament complex of the elbow were compared and analyzed by blind method.Results:The medial collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament complex in 38 healthy volunteers showed as thin strip low signal on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and fat suppression proton density-weighted imaging (PD-FS), and the annular ligament showed as annular linear low signal surrounding the radial head. Among the 82 patients with elbow injuries, in the medial side, there were 6 cases with medial collateral ligament injuries alone, 2 with common flexor tendon injuries alone, and 4 with medial collateral ligament and common flexor tendon injuries; while in the lateral side, there were 9 cases with the lateral collateral ligament complex injuries alone, 21 with common extensor tendon injuries alone, and 31 with the lateral collateral ligament complex and common extensor tendon injuries. In addition, there were 9 cases of medial collateral ligament coupled with lateral collateral ligament complex injuries. Among the 9 cases of combined ligament injuries (5 cases with injuries of the common flexor or extensor tendon), 5 cases were complete tears and 4 cases were partial tears. Among the 10 cases of medial collateral ligament injuries, 9 patients were strain and one was complete tear. Among the 40 cases of lateral collateral ligament complex injuries, 29 patients were strain, 10 were partial tears and one was complete tear. The strained ligament showed as thickened and blurred on T1WI, and the fiber was still continuous; while on PD-FS, the injured ligaments demonstrated as heterogeneously increased signal intensity. Partial tear showed as fiber thickening and partial discontinuity. A complete tear showed that the fiber was discontinuous and retracted with surrounding soft tissue edema.Conclusion:MRI is an accurate method for evaluation of the anatomy and pathological conditions of the medial collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament complex of the elbow joint, and has important application value in the diagnosis and treatment of elbow ligament injury.