June 29, 2006

Natural Course of Disc Morphology in Patients With Sciatica: An MRI Study Using a Standardized Qualitative Classification System
Spine
Conclusions: This classification system could be used to identify the majority of symptomatic disc levels. At 14 months, the MRI outcome was generally good for disc herniations and nerve root compromise. Nerve root compromise had the best MRI prognosis if the disc was extruded at baseline...

Diagnostic performance of general dental practitioners after lecture in identifying post-menopausal women with low bone mineral density by panoramic radiographs
Dentomaxillofacial Radiology
Mandibular cortical erosion detected on panoramic radiographs may be useful for identifying post-menopausal women with low skeletal bone mineral density (BMD)...Conclusions: Our results suggest that 73.0% of women who had low skeletal BMD can be identified by GDPs after a lecture on the use of panoramic radiographs as an aid in diagnosing low BMD; however, the diagnostic performance may not be influenced by GDPs' age...

Combining information obtained from magnetic resonance imaging and conventional radiographs to detect sacroiliitis in patients with recent onset inflammatory back pain
Annals of Rheumatic Diseases
Conclusions: CR can detect structural changes in SI joints with higher sensitivity than MRI. However, inflammation on MRI can be found in a substantial proportion of patients with IBP but normal radiographs. Assessment of structural changes by CR followed by assessment of inflammation on MRI in patients with negative findings gives the highest returns for detecting involvement of the SI joints by imaging in patients with recent onset IBP...

Accuracy of 3-T MRI Using Fast Spin-Echo Technique to Detect Meniscal Tears of the Knee
American Journal of Roentgenology
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the fast spin-echo technique in detecting meniscal tears of the knee using a 3-T MRI system...We concluded from this study that 3-T MRI using fast spin-echo sequences is highly accurate in the detection of medial and lateral meniscal tears of the knee...

Posterior Ankle Impingement in Professional Soccer Players: Effectiveness of Sonographically Guided Therapy
American Journal of Roentgenology
The results show a role for sonographically guided steroid and anesthetic injection into a posterolateral capsule abnormality in athletes with clinical posterior impingement. The procedure was well tolerated and allowed a rapid return to athletic activity in all patients...

June 26, 2006

Center of the Femoral Head: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
Determination of the center of the femoral head (CFH) may be difficult because of incomplete epiphyseal ossification of the femoral head in children younger than 8 years...Conclusion: This study shows that the MPON can be used as a landmark to determine the center of the femoral head in normal hips of children younger than 8 years and can be used to measure the lower extremity mechanical axis...

Leakage of Polymethylmethacrylate in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: Comparison of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures With and Without an Intravertebral Vacuum Cleft
Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
We compared polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) leakage from vertebral bodies in osteoporotic compression fractures with and without intravertebral vacuum clefts (IVCs) on computed tomography (CT) after vertebroplasty...Conclusions: On CT after vertebroplasty, the incidences of PMMA leakage in osteoporotic compression fractures with and without IVCs were similar; however, leakage type frequencies differed...

Hypoplasia of the Glenoid Neck of the Scapula: Imaging Findings and Report of 16 Patients
Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
Conclusion: Glenoid hypoplasia is a developmental skeletal anomaly comprising a spectrum of associated osseous and cartilaginous changes of the articular cartilage and glenoid labrum. Cross-sectional imaging studies, with or without arthrography, may help further characterize associated derangements of the shoulder, some of which are indicative of shoulder instability...

Musculoskeletal Lesions With Fluid-Fluid Level: A Pictorial Essay
Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
A fluid-fluid level was identified in 11.2% of focal lesions of bone. Fluid-fluid levels are observed on cross-sectional imaging with either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. They become apparent when a fluid collection containing substances of different density is allowed to settle, and when the plane of imaging is perpendicular to the fluid level...

Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Distinguishes Recurrent Epidermoid Neoplasm From Postoperative Arachnoid Cyst in the Lumbosacral Spine
Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
Diffusion-weighted imaging can be used to distinguish epidermoid tumor from arachnoid cyst in the intracranial compartment. We report the use of diffusion-weighted imaging in a postoperative spine to successfully distinguish a recurrent epidermoid tumor from arachnoid cyst in a noninvasive manner. Our case illustrates the value of this readily available sequence presently not generally used in the clinical evaluation of spinal pathology...

June 20, 2006

The Utility of In-Phase/Opposed-Phase Imaging in Differentiating Malignancy from Acute Benign Compression Fractures of the Spine
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Benign and malignant fractures of the spine may have similar signal intensity characteristics on conventional MR imaging sequences...Conclusion: There is significant difference in signal intensity between benign compression fractures and malignancy on in-phase/opposed-phase MR imaging...

June 19, 2006

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Spine
The aim of the study was to determine whether MRI scans in the coronal plane allow proper evaluation of interbody fusion through carbon cages...Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrate that the most reliable radiographic indicator of fusion is the presence of bone bridging through the cages shown on coronal planes...

Correlation between bankart and hill-sachs lesions in anterior shoulder dislocation
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery
Conclusion: There is a strong correlation between both lesions. This apparent trend can be useful in predicting the presence of a Bankart lesion when a Hill-Sachs lesion is identified on a plain radiograph. This study suggests the consideration of surgical repair after identification of a Hill-Sachs lesion on plain radiographs, especially for younger patients where the rate of re-dislocation is high...

June 16, 2006

The Use of Diagnostic Ultrasound in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Journal of Hand Surgery
Conclusions: Our results indicate that high-resolution ultrasound is informative in the evaluation of CTS and shows enlargement of the median nerve at the distal wrist crease in symptomatic patients. Therefore it is a reliable modality for imaging the wrist in patients with CTS. In addition ultrasound is well tolerated and safe...

Hereditary cranium bifidum persisting as enlarged parietal foramina (Catlin marks) on cephalometric radiographs
American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Cranium bifidum occultum is a rare skull ossification disorder referred to as the Catlin mark characterized by ossification defects in the parietal bones. Evidence suggests that this condition has a strong genetic heterogenicity. It is believed that, as calvarial growth continues, ossification in parietal bones fills these defects, and they can remain as parietal foramina on either side of the sagittal suture...

June 15, 2006

Integrity of Repaired Posterior Structures after THA
Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research
Ultrasonography can be used to effectively assess the integrity of the posterior repair after total hip arthroplasty. The posterior structures were intact in the majority of patients 3 months after total hip arthroplasty...

Imaging in ankylosing spondylitis
Best Practice & Research: Clinical Rheumatology
The prognostic significance of acute changes on MRI remains unclear. Reliable approaches to the evaluation of chronic changes are yet to be developed. MRI represents a major advance in the diagnostic evaluation of AS...

Three-Dimensional Rotational X-Ray Navigation for Needle Guidance in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: An Accuracy Study
Spine
To assess whether the needle tip position displayed by the navigation system corresponds to the real needle position and to quantitatively determine needle navigation accuracy in a clinically relevant setting...Conclusions: Accuracy of 3DRX-guided navigation is 2.5 +/- 1.5 mm in a clinically relevant setting, which is less than the accuracy determined in phantom experiments...

June 13, 2006

Usability of the Remote Console for Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation: Formative Evaluation
CyberPsychology & Behavior
The Remote Console (ReCon) is a telerehabilitation application that allows therapists to remotely communicate with patients while monitoring and controlling their virtual rehabilitation exercises. It provides therapists visual feedback of patients' movements, their exercise simulations replicated in real time and with tools to conduct training without a face-to-face session...

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Patellofemoral Malalignment
Arthroscopy
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between anterior knee pain secondary to suspected patellofemoral malalignment and tibial tubercle lateralization, patellar tilt, and patellar lateralization on magnetic resonance imaging...Conclusions: Magnetic resonance imaging determination of tibial tubercle lateralization and patellar tilt correlates positively with the clinical diagnosis of anterior knee pain, suggesting that patellofemoral pain is caused by subtle malalignment...

Metacarpophalangeal Pattern Profile Analysis: Useful Diagnostic Tool for Differentiating between Dyschondrosteosis, Turner Syndrome, and Hypochondroplasia
Acta Radiologica
Conclusion: Patients with LWD, TS, or HCP have distinct MCPPs and can be successfully differentiated from each other using advanced MCPP analysis. Discriminant analysis is to be preferred over Pearson correlation coefficient because it is a more sensitive and specific technique. MCPP analysis is a helpful tool for differentiating between syndromes with similar clinical and radiological abnormalities...

June 9, 2006

Extent of Followup Care After Elective Total Hip Replacement
Journal of Rheumatology
Conclusion: Only 42% of THR recipients reported consistent radiographic followup. Older patients, patients with lower income, and those with lower education level were less likely to have consistent radiographic followup over 6 years after THR. These population groups can serve as targets for interventions to improve followup after elective THR...

New Needle Holder Facilitates Percutaneous Fluoroscopy Guided Sacroiliac Puncture
Acta Radiologica
To evaluate the success of a new guidance device for sacroiliac joint puncture...Conclusion: The new guidance device makes sacroiliac joint injection easier and prevents unnecessary exposure to radiation during the procedure...

A Short Larsen Score is Effective When Evaluating Radiographs in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Acta Radiologica
To compare the efficacy of the short Larsen score (LS 12) based on analysis of 12 areas with the original Larsen score (LS 40)...Conclusion: The short Larsen score was as efficient as the original method...

3D Imaging of the Whole Spine at 3T Compared to 1.5T: Initial Experiences
Acta Radiologica
Conclusion: High-resolution 3D imaging of the whole spine is feasible at 3T with an increased SNR compared to 1.5T. Signal gain at 3T can be used to further increase spatial resolution. Pronounced interpatient variability of SNR at 3T may be a result of inhomogeneous RF deposition due to dielectric effects...

Comparison of effective dose to children and adults from dual X-ray absorptiometry examinations
Bone
Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is increasingly used to measure bone density in children. If the system software does not include pediatric scan modes, then child examinations must be performed using adult scan modes that give a higher radiation dose to children than adults...

The Influence of Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Reconstructions on the Characterization and Treatment of Distal Radial Fractures
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
Conclusions: Three-dimensional computed tomography improves both the reliability and the accuracy of radiographic characterization of articular fractures of the distal part of the radius and influences treatment decisions. Future studies will be required to determine the impact of these decisions on patient outcome...

Imaging of the posterolateral corner of the knee
Clinical Radiology
The structures of the posterolateral corner of the knee are increasingly recognized as fulfilling an important role in maintaining knee stability. The posterolateral aspect of the knee is stabilized by a complex anatomy of osseous, myotendinous and ligamentous structures. Unrecognized injuries to this part of the knee are a cause of failure of cruciate ligament reconstruction...

June 6, 2006

Medullar fat influences texture analysis of trabecular microarchitecture on X-ray radiographs
European Journal of Radiology
Alteration of trabecular architecture is a predictor of fracture risk in osteoporosis. Until now, microarchitecture analysis is difficult to evaluate in routine clinical practice for osteoporosis. Texture analysis on X-ray images has been advocated to be a suitable method to assess microarchitecture in bone diseases...

Value of fat-suppressed PD-weighted TSE-sequences for detection of anterior and posterior cruciate ligament lesions-Comparison to arthroscopy
European Journal of Radiology
To evaluate fat-suppressed (FS) proton-density-weighted (PDw) turbo spin-echo (TSE) magnetic resonance imaging for the detection of anterior and posterior cruciate ligament lesions in comparison to arthroscopy...Fat-suppressed PDw/T2w TSE-MR sequences are comparable to PDw TSE sequences for the detection of ACL/PCL-lesions...

Coxa Vara: A Novel Measurement Technique in Skeletal Dysplasias
Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research
Coxa vara can be a progressive deformity in children with skeletal dysplasia. Preoperative anteroposterior pelvic radiographs of 30 children with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita and spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia were used to test the reliability of a new radiographic measure of coxa vara, the Hilgenreiner-trochanteric angle...

June 2, 2006

A Medical Mystery - Arthritis
New England Journal of Medicine
A 51-year-old woman with a 15-year history of rheumatoid arthritis presented with swelling and loss of function of the right shoulder. Magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder revealed severe destruction of the humeral head with an elevated signal of the bone marrow...

Clinical and ultrasonographic findings related to knee pain in osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
To determine clinical and sonographic factors associated with painful episodes in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA)...Conclusions: Suprapatellar effusion, Baker's cyst, and higher BMI are more frequent and seem to be risk factors of painful flare in OA of the knee...

Assessment of Human Disc Degeneration and Proteoglycan Content Using T1[rho]-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Spine
Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that T1[rho] may provide a tool for the diagnosis of early degenerative changes in the disc. T1[rho]-weighted MRI is a noninvasive technique that may provide higher dynamic range than T2 and does not require a high static field or exogenous contrast agents...

Evaluation of Lumbar Spine Motion With Dynamic X-ray-A Reliability Analysis
Spine
Conclusions: For lumbar ROM measurement with dynamic radiograph, the superimposition method seems to be more reliable than the Cobb method. Study protocols dealing with ROM measurement have to calculate the 95% CI of the measurement method used because clinically valid conclusions can only be drawn with respect to these intervals...

Pseudoaneurysm and deep vein thrombosis complicating femoral osteochondroma: Multimodality imaging
Australasian Radiology
A case of a femoral osteochondroma complicated by pseudoaneurysm and deep venous thrombosis is presented. Multimodality imaging contributed crucial information to allow successful diagnosis and preoperative planning...

Foreign body giant cell reaction to polytetrafluoroethylene used as interposition material in scaphoid�trapezium arthroplasty
Australasian Radiology
We present the case of a 54-year-old woman who presented with a one and a half-year history of persistent pain at the base of her right thumb. A scaphoid�trapezium interposition arthroplasty with polytetrafluoroethylene was carried out in an effort to improve function and decrease the patient's persistent pain. Approximately 7 years after surgery, she began to complain of increasing pain and radiographs showed extensive osteolytic changes, consistent with a foreign body giant cell reaction...