Association between patellofemoral congruence and patellofemoral chondropathy in patients with anterior knee pain: A T2 mapping knee MRI study.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the T2 mapping magnetic resonance imaging technique was used to evaluate early cartilage changes associated with patellofemoral alignment and morphology.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty four patients (Study group: 38 females, 16 males) with anterior knee pain and a randomly selected and age-matched 50 controls (Control group; 37 females, 13 males) were compared by two blinded authors in terms of T2 values of the patella medial, lateral facet, and trochlea, Insall-Salvatti index, lateral trochlear inclination angle, patellar tilt angle, sulcus angle, and patella medial and lateral facet lengths. The inter- and intra-observer reliability tests were assessed.

RESULTS: The T2 medial patellar facet value, T2 lateral patellar facet value, T2 trochlea value, Visual Analog Scale, tibial tubercle - greater trochanter distance, and patellar tilt angle measure were statistically significantly higher in the study group.

CONCLUSION: Based on our study findings, the T2 mapping magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique was found to be reliable test that can be used to diagnose early cartilage damage in patients with anterior knee pain. In patients with anterior knee pain, especially with decreased Insall Salvatti index, low lateral trochlear inclination angle, and higher patellar tilt angle, adding a T2 mapping sequence to the standard knee MRI protocol is recommended to help detect early cartilage damage.