Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) 2025; 60(02): s00451806817
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1806817
Original Article

Pathological Threshold of Patellar Tendon-Trochlear Groove Distance Using Magnetic Resonance Image in Patients with Patellar Instability

Limite patológico da distância tendão patelar-sulco da tróclea utilizando imagens de ressonância magnética em pacientes com instabilidade patelar
1   Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
2   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
,
1   Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
2   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
,
1   Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
2   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
,
3   Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Clínica Kozma, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
,
1   Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
2   Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
› Institutsangaben

Financial Support The authors declare that they did not receive financial support from agencies in the public, private, or non-profit sectors to conduct the present study.
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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate and compare the values of the patellar tendon-trochlear groove (PT-TG) distance in individuals with and without patellar instability. Additionally, we aimed to define a cut-off value for the pathological limit of the PT-TG through nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with patellar instability.

Methods

The PT-TG distance of 52 knees was measured in 48 individuals with objective patellar instability (instability group) by MRI. These measurements were compared with those made in 50 knees of 44 individuals without a history of patellar instability (control group).

Results

The PT-TG distance in the instability group (20.6 ± 5.0 mm) was greater than in the control group (11.8 ± 3.4 mm; p < 0.001). A value of 15.5 mm was determined as the pathological limit, with an accuracy of 81.4%, in MRI exams.

Conclusion

Individuals with patellar instability have statistically higher measurements of PT-TG when compared with patients without it. Therefore, values higher than 15.5 mm for PT-TG seen in MRI exams represent a pathological lateralization force of the extensor mechanism related to patellar instability.

Resumo

Objetivo

Avaliar e comparar a distância tendão patelar–sulco troclear (TP-ST) em indivíduos com e sem instabilidade patelar. Um segundo objetivo foi definir um limiar patológico de TP-ST por meio de ressonância magnética (RM) nuclear em pacientes com instabilidade patelar.

Métodos

A distância TP-ST de 52 joelhos foi medida em 48 indivíduos com instabilidade patelar objetiva (grupo instabilidade) por RM. Essas medidas foram comparadas àquelas feitas em 50 joelhos de 44 indivíduos sem histórico de instabilidade patelar (grupo controle).

Resultados

A distância TP-ST no grupo instabilidade (20,6 ± 5,0 mm) foi maior do que no grupo controle (11,8 ± 3,4 mm; p < 0,001). O valor de 15,5 mm foi determinado como limiar patológico, com acurácia de 81,4%, em exames de RM.

Conclusão

Indivíduos com instabilidade patelar apresentam medidas estatisticamente maiores de TP-ST em comparação a pacientes sem instabilidade. Portanto, valores de TP-ST superiores a 15,5 mm à RM representam uma força de lateralização patológica do mecanismo extensor relacionada à instabilidade patelar.

Work developed at Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia de Passo Fundo and Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.




Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 01. Juli 2024

Angenommen: 09. Januar 2025

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
23. Juni 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Bibliographical Record
Rubens Rosso Nadal, Vinícius Canello Kuhn, Alexandre Codevilla Teixeira, Eduardo Bervian Júnior, Osmar Valadão Lopes Júnior. Pathological Threshold of Patellar Tendon-Trochlear Groove Distance Using Magnetic Resonance Image in Patients with Patellar Instability. Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) 2025; 60: s00451806817.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1806817