End-stage extension of the knee and its influence on tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove distance (TTTG) in asymptomatic volunteers

• Published in: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2014, Vol.22 (1), p.214-218
• Main Authors: Dietrich, Tobias J., Betz, Michael, Pfirrmann, Christian W. A., Koch, Peter P., Fucentese, Sandro F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Asymptomatic; Bone surgery; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Joint Instability - diagnostic imaging; Joint Instability - physiopathology; Knee; Knee Joint - diagnostic imaging; Knee Joint - physiology; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Orthopedics; Range of Motion, Articular; Reference Values; Tibia - anatomy & histology; Tibia - diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0942-2056; 1433-7347
• DOI: 10.1007/s00167-012-2357-z

Purpose Increased tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove distance (TTTG) is one potential correcting parameter in patients suffering from lateral patellar instability. It was hypothesized that end-stage extension of the knee might influence the TTTG distance on MR images. Methods Transverse T1-weighted MR images of the knee were acquired at full extension, 15° and 30° flexion of the knee in 30 asymptomatic volunteers. MRI parameters: slice thickness: 3 mm, matrix: 256 × 384, FOV: 150 × 150 mm. Two observers independently measured the TTTG at all positions. Results Mean TTTG for observer 1 was 15.1 ± 3.2 mm at full extension, 10.0 ± 3.5 mm at 15° flexion and 8.1 ± 3.4 mm at 30° flexion. Mean TTTG for observer 2: 14.8 ± 3.3 mm at full extension, 9.4 ± 3.0 mm at 15° flexion, 8.6 ± 3.4 mm at 30° flexion. Mean values were significantly different ( p