Victor R Carlson1, Barry P Boden2, Aricia Shen1, Jennifer N Jackson1, Lawrence Yao3, Frances T Sheehan1. 1. Functional and Applied Biomechanics Section, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. 2. The Orthopaedic Center, Rockville, Maryland, USA. 3. Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The distance between the tibial tubercle (TT) and trochlear groove (TT-TG distance) is known to be greater in patients with patellar instability. However, the potential role and prevalence of pathological TT-TG distances in a large cohort of skeletally mature patients with isolated patellofemoral pain (PFP) are not clear. PURPOSE: To determine if the mean TT-TG distance is greater in patients with PFP, who lack a history of patellar dislocations, knee trauma, or osteoarthritis, relative to healthy controls. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 50 knees (38 patients) with PFP and 60 knees (56 controls) without PFP formed the basis of this study. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine the TT-TG distance from 3-dimensional static scans. RESULTS: The cohort with PFP demonstrated a significantly greater mean TT-TG distance relative to asymptomatic controls (13.0 vs 10.8 mm, respectively; P = .001). Among the cohort with PFP, 15 knees (30%) demonstrated TT-TG distances ≥15 mm, and 3 knees (6%) demonstrated TT-TG distances ≥20 mm. CONCLUSION: Most adult patients with isolated PFP have elevated TT-TG distances compared with controls, which likely contributes to the force imbalance surrounding the knee.
BACKGROUND: The distance between the tibial tubercle (TT) and trochlear groove (TT-TG distance) is known to be greater in patients with patellar instability. However, the potential role and prevalence of pathological TT-TG distances in a large cohort of skeletally mature patients with isolated patellofemoral pain (PFP) are not clear. PURPOSE: To determine if the mean TT-TG distance is greater in patients with PFP, who lack a history of patellar dislocations, knee trauma, or osteoarthritis, relative to healthy controls. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 50 knees (38 patients) with PFP and 60 knees (56 controls) without PFP formed the basis of this study. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine the TT-TG distance from 3-dimensional static scans. RESULTS: The cohort with PFP demonstrated a significantly greater mean TT-TG distance relative to asymptomatic controls (13.0 vs 10.8 mm, respectively; P = .001). Among the cohort with PFP, 15 knees (30%) demonstrated TT-TG distances ≥15 mm, and 3 knees (6%) demonstrated TT-TG distances ≥20 mm. CONCLUSION: Most adult patients with isolated PFP have elevated TT-TG distances compared with controls, which likely contributes to the force imbalance surrounding the knee.
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