Cross Sectional Study of the patterns of knee joint abnormalities detected by knee MRI in patients evaluated at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia From April–September 2017.
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Date
2017-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Introduction: The knee joint, the largest joint in the body, has several functions
which are essential for human beings to walk, run and jump. Primarily, it enables
flexion-extension of the lower limb in the sagittal plane. Joint stability during
movement is attained by the shape of the articular surfaces, the collateral and
cruciate ligaments, the menisci and tendons and muscles crossing the knee joint.
(1) The vulnerability of the knee, the largest joint in the body, to direct trauma
makes knee injuries very common throughout life. (2)
MRI visualizes most components of the knee joint, including articular cartilage,
menisci, intra-articular ligaments, synovium, bone marrow, subchondral cysts, and
other periarticular and intra-articular lesions that are not detectable by radiography.
(4).
The patterns of abnormalities of these different joint components as detected by
MRI has been studied in different centers. Such types of studies, to date, have not
been done in our country to our knowledge. The aim of this paper is to study
frequency and the patterns of these abnormalities in the knee joint detected by knee
MRI.
Objective: To assess the patterns of abnormalities in the knee joint detected by
knee MRI.
Methods: Hospital based prospective cross sectional study was conducted on 49
patients who had knee MRI at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital for a period of 7
months from January 1 to August 2016. Patients included here are those who had
knee MRI and no history of knee surgery.
Results: A total of 49 patients were included in the study out of which 26(53.1%)
were male and 23 (46.9%) were female, with a mean age of 43 years (range 17 to
68 years). The three most common pathologies were joint effusion seen in
32(65.3%), bone marrow edema in 22(45.8%) and osteophytes in 22(44.9%). ACL
tear was the commonest ligament abnormality occurring in 5 (10.4%) patients. Ten
(20.8%) patients had meniscal tear, all involving the medial meniscus with the
posterior horn being involved in 8(80%) of these patients.
Conclusion: The mean age of our study population was higher than most
referenced papers suggestive of possible delay in health seeking. The commonest
knee pathologies were similar to other studies. Features of osteoarthritis were seen
in higher frequency in our study population. Even though the higher mean age
could be the possible cause, further study is recommended to look into the causes.
Bone fracture, tendon abnormality and ligament abnormality showed statistically
significant association with trauma. These abnormalities which were seen with
higher frequency in those with a history of trauma were also observed in higher
frequency in the male population.
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Keywords
knee joint,cruciate ligaments