Patellofemoral instability: evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging / Instabilidade femoropatelar: avaliação por ressonância magnética

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contribution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating patelofemoral instability. METHODS: 39 patients (45 knees) with patellar instability underwent knee magnetic resonance images between October 2009 and July 2011, at the Rede Lab's D'Or, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, were included. MRI were analyzed for the presence of bone, hyaline cartilage and soft-tissue abnormalities, as well as anatomic variants that may contribute to chronic patellar instability. RESULTS: The authors found, of the 45 knees analysed, bone changes in 44%, cartilaginous injuries in 64%, disruption of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) in 29% and joint morphology abnormalities in 73% patients. Meniscal tears were also identified in 2 (4%) patients and fibular fracture in one (2%) patient. CONCLUSION: MRI allowed the detection of predisposing factors that may contribute to the development of patellofemoral instability and the diagnosis of bone, hyaline cartilage, ligamentous and meniscal abnormalities. .

OBJETIVO: Determinar a contribuição da ressonância magnética (RM) na avaliação da instabilidade femoropatelar. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos 39 pacientes (45 joelhos) com instabilidade femoropatelar, submetidos à RM do joelho entre outubro de 2009 e julho de 2011, na Rede Labs D'Or, Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Os resultados dos exames foram analisados quanto à presença de alterações ósseas, cartilaginosas e nas partes moles, além de alterações anatômicas que podem contribuir para a instabilidade patelar crônica. RESULTADOS: Os autores encontraram, nos 45 joelhos examinados, alterações ósseas em 44%, lesões da cartilagem em 64%, ruptura do ligamento patelofemoral medial (LPFM) em 29% e anormalidades da morfologia articular em 73% pacientes. Foram também identificadas lesões meniscais em dois (4%) pacientes e fratura da fíbula em um (2%) paciente. CONCLUSÃO: A RM permitiu a detecção de fatores predisponentes à instabilidade e o diagnóstico de lesões ósseas, cartilaginosas, meniscais e ligamentares. .

Patellofemoral Instability: Evaluation by Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contribution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating patelofemoral instability. METHODS: 39 patients (45 knees) with patellar instability underwent knee magnetic resonance images between October 2009 and July 2011, at the Rede Lab's D'Or, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, were included. MRI were analyzed for the presence of bone, hyaline cartilage and soft-tissue abnormalities, as well as anatomic variants that may contribute to chronic patellar instability. RESULTS: The authors found, of the 45 knees analysed, bone changes in 44%, cartilaginous injuries in 64%, disruption of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) in 29% and joint morphology abnormalities in 73% patients. Meniscal tears were also identified in 2 (4%) patients and fibular fracture in one (2%) patient. CONCLUSION: MRI allowed the detection of predisposing factors that may contribute to the development of patellofemoral instability and the diagnosis of bone, hyaline cartilage, ligamentous and meniscal abnormalities.

Arthrography of the shoulder: a modified ultrasound guided technique of joint injection at the rotator interval.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an ultrasound guided technique of shoulder joint injection at the rotator interval space, using an endocavitary transducer and performed by a radiologist with no previous experience with arthrography. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Accuracy of the intra-articular puncture and incidence of complications were evaluated in 180 consecutive patients submitted to joint puncture for shoulder MR arthrography. RESULTS: Puncture was accomplished successfully in all cases, of which 92% with one attempt, and 8% with two, both well tolerated by patients. No relevant complications were reported after the procedure. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that puncture of the glenohumeral joint guided by ultrasound at the rotator interval space using an endocavitary transducer is easy and quick, even when performed by radiologists with no experience in arthrographic procedures.

Aspectos radiográficos e ultra-sonográficos dos pacientes submetidos a alongamento ósseo pelo método de Ilizarov / Radiographic and sonographic findings in patients submitted to limb lengthening using the Ilizarov method

Neste trabalho foram monitorados, por meio de radiografias simples e ultra-sonografias, dez pacientes submetidos a alongamento ósseo com o uso do fixador externo de Ilizarov, no período de março de 2001 a março de 2002. Os pacientes submetidos ao método de Ilizarov foram principalmente crianças e adolescentes, para correção de anomalias congênitas (seis casos). A correção do encurtamento se deveu a trauma complicado com osteomielite em três pacientes e a ressecção tumoral em um paciente. O fêmur esteve envolvido em 60 por cento dos casos, a tíbia em 30 por cento e a fíbula em 10 por cento. Os achados radiográficos encontrados na evolução normal do regenerado ósseo foram um centro radiotransparente, ossificação linear, reação periosteal, aumento das partes moles e ossificação completa. Os achados da formação do osso novo na ultra-sonografia foram o regenerado anecóico, ecos esparsos no sítio de distração, ecos lineares alinhados longitudinalmente, ecos grosseiros e amorfos e calcificação completa. Ocorreram 15 complicações em seis pacientes: cisto no regenerado (cinco casos), infecção adjacente aos pinos (quatro casos), coleção em partes moles (três casos), consolidação precoce (dois casos) e retardo na consolidação (um caso).

Ten patients treated with Ilizarov external fixator for limb lengthening were monitored with radiographs and sonography examinations between March, 2001 and March, 2002. Most of the patients were children and adolescents who were submitted to surgery for correction of congenital deformities (six cases). In three patients shortening was secondary to post-traumatic osteomielitis and in one patient due to tumor resection. The femur was affected in 60%, tibia in 30% and fibula in 10% of the cases. The main radiographic findings of bone regeneration during the normal process of limb lengthening were lucent areas, linear ossification, periosteal reaction, soft tissue abnormalities and complete consolidation. Sonographic findings of new bone formation included anechoic areas, sparse echogenic foci within the distraction site, linear longitudinally oriented echogenic foci, amorphous and coarse echogenic foci and complete calcification. There were 15 complications in six patients: fluid collection at the distraction site (five cases), pin site infection (four cases), soft tissue collection (three cases), premature consolidation (two cases) and delayed consolidation (one case).