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Patello-femoral tracking in the weight-bearing knee: a study of asymptomatic volunteers utilising dynamic magnetic resonance imaging: a preliminary report

PainSci » bibliography » Tennant et al 2001
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Tags: patellar pain, running, knee, surgery, arthritis, aging, pain problems, leg, limbs, overuse injury, injury, exercise, self-treatment, treatment

Two articles on PainSci cite Tennant 2001: 1. The Complete Guide to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome 2. Patellofemoral Tracking Syndrome 

PainSci notes on Tennant 2001:

From the abstract: “These results indicate that mild lateral tilting and displacement can be normal phenomena in the weight-bearing knee in early flexion and should not necessarily be taken as evidence of abnormal tracking in symptomatic patients.”

original abstract †Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.

Normal patello-femoral tracking is not well defined, and conventional radiological techniques do not allow imaging in the physiological, weight-bearing stance. A vertical-access open configuration magnetic resonance scanner allows imaging of patello-femoral tracking during weight-bearing and through a wide range of knee flexion. We imaged 40 asymptomatic knees in this way, producing axial scans which were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using sulcus angle, congruence angle, lateral patello-femoral angle and patellar centralisation, to assess patellar tilt and displacement. Mild lateral tilting in hyperextension with the quadriceps relaxed was seen, but quantitative assessment of this was impeded by internal rotation of the femur in extension. One-half of the knees were slightly laterally displaced in hyper-extension, becoming central during the first 30 degrees of knee flexion. During passive flexion of the knee in a seated position, fewer knees were laterally tilted or displaced, and no consistent change was seen during flexion. These results indicate that mild lateral tilting and displacement can be normal phenomena in the weight-bearing knee in early flexion and should not necessarily be taken as evidence of abnormal tracking in symptomatic patients. Lateral to medial movement of the patella occurs during normal knee flexion. In addition, imaging in the weight-bearing knee can provide valuable information not gained by imaging during passive knee flexion.

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