RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The goals of this study were to test whether age- and sex-dependent variations in the size and shape of the intercondylar notch exist and to define the landmarks and measurements best suited for assessment of the intercondylar notch on MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 329 patients were divided into six age groups, and their MR images (3-T coronal T2-weighted fat-suppressed spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR], sagittal proton density-weighted, axial T2-weighted fat-suppressed SPAIR) were evaluated. The intercondylar notch was measured and its shape evaluated on coronal images. Three shapes of intercondylar notch were defined. RESULTS: The intercondylar notch is subject to change throughout life, narrowing more distally and widening more proximally. Its width ranges from 16.23 ± 2.71 mm before the age of 11 years to 19.38 ± 2.90 mm in middle age and then decreases to 18.6 ± 2.36 mm after the age of 60 years. Its shape changes from an A shape in the early stages of life to an Ω shape in the later stages. CONCLUSION: The term "intercondylar space" is introduced as a morphologic description of the osseous intercondylar notch and adjacent structures. The femur as a whole is subject to substantial plastic deformation throughout life, not only in its proximal part, with respect to torsion, but also in its distal extent.
RESUMO
Determinaram-se os índices de largura da fossa intercondilar (FI), após transecção do ligamento cruzado cranial em nove cães adultos submetidos à estabilização articular com retalho de fáscia lata. Os joelhos foram alocados em dois grupos, sendo o joelho direito (GI) submetido à incisuroplastia troclear (ITR) e posterior estabilização articular, e o joelho esquerdo submetido somente à substituição ligamentar (GC). Cada grupo foi dividido em três subgrupos correspondentes aos momentos de eutanásia aos 30, 90 e 180 dias de pós-operatório. Os índices de largura da FI foram determinados, macroscópica e radiograficamente, pela mensuração da abertura cranial da FI nos terços cranial, médio e caudal, e indexados em relação à largura epicondilar. Observou-se aumento significativo dos índices macroscópicos e radiográficos nas articulações do GI, sendo estes estatisticamente diferentes daqueles das articulações de GC. Não foi observada estenose intercondilar nos joelhos de GC após a estabilização articular. Conclui-se que a estabilização articular com retalho de fáscia lata preveniu a estenose da fossa intercondilar, e que a ITR promoveu o alargamento permanente dessa estrutura.
Intercondylar fossa width indexes (IFWI) were determined in nine adult dogs submitted to intercondylar notchplasty (IN) after transection of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) followed by a fascial strip stabilization. The right stifle was submitted to IN followed by fascial strip reconstruction of the CCL (GI) while in the left stifle IN was not performed (GC). Each group was then divided into three subgroups which corresponded to time of euthanasia at 30, 90 and 180 days after surgery. IFWI were determined, both macroscopically and radiographically, by measuring the cranial outlet of the intercondylar fossa in relation to the epicondylar width. A significant increase was observed in indexes of GI following IN, and these differed from indexes of GC throughout the evaluation period. It was concluded that articular repair using a fascia strip prevented stenosis of the intercondylar fossa, and that IN caused a permanent widening of it.
