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Peripheral neuropathy (PN) can be due to either entrapment or other causes such as trauma, infection, inflammation, and mass lesions. Evaluation of peripheral nerves was previously limited to history, clinical examination, and electrodiagnostic tests. However, now, with advances in imaging, both ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enable excellent evaluation of the peripheral nerves. US can be used for preliminary imaging of patients with PN and MRI can be done if US results are inadequate or equivocal.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine whether there are specific magnetic resonance (MR) marrow edema patterns in patients with chronic foot pain and whether the individual small bones contribute significantly to pain. Material and Methods: A total of 153 symptomatic consecutive MR studies of patients with chronic foot pain and altered bone marrow signals of the foot and ankle were included in the study. Patients were placed into subgroups based on medial, central, or lateral marrow edema patterns. All cases with a clinical history or MR features of trauma, infection, inflammatory diseases, and tumors were excluded from the study. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine whether the marrow edema in each small bone of the subgroup was significant for the contribution of pain. Results: There were 84, 41, and 28 cases (153 patients) for the medial, central, and lateral marrow edema subgroups, respectively. The medial talus and medial and lateral sesamoid bones achieved statistical significance for an association between pain and marrow edema on MR images. Of the central group, sinus tarsi was statistically significant as a contributor of pain. None of the lateral bones were statistically significant as contributors of pain. Conclusion: Abnormal bone marrow edema patterns of the foot including the ankle on MRI fall into specific patterns of the medial, central, and lateral foot. This could be attributed to altered mechanical weight-bearing axis. The normal mechanical weight-bearing axis for the purpose of this study was along the long axis of the 2nd metatarsal, akin to the underlying seen in March fractures. The medial bone marrow edema was deemed to be a result of medial deviation of the normal mechanical weight-bearing axis, resulting in the marrow edema from the abnormal stress forces. The bone marrow edema pattern along the 2nd metatarsal was considered on the basis of excessive mechanical stress forces. The marrow edema pattern along the lateral foot, 4th and 5th metatarsals, and the lateral talus, calcaneus, and cuboid, was considered as a lateral deviation of the normal axis resulting in the abnormal stress and marrow edema pattern within these bones. By defining bone marrow edema patterns, we can assist orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, and physiotherapists to provide appropriate corrective treatment including orthotics and physiotherapy. These MR features can also provide a baseline to monitor interval improvement after the application of the corrective measures.

Objective: The objective of this study was to outline a novel unique concept of secondary impingement of the muscles, myotendons, and tendons of the rotator cuff from hypertrophy as a result of strength training exercises. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 58 patients were referred for an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by the orthopedic surgeon to the radiology department over a period of 1½ years. All patients gave a history of strength training exercises and presented with clinical features of rotator cuff impingement. Results: We identified features of hypertrophy of rotator cuff muscles, myotendons, and tendons in 12 of these 58 patients. This was the only abnormality on MRI. The hypertrophy of rotator cuff muscles and tendon bulk completely filling the subacromial space to the point of overfilling and resulting in secondary compressive features. Conclusion: Rotator cuff impingement is a common phenomenon that can occur with various inlet and outlet pathological conditions. However, rotator cuff impingement may also result from muscle and tendon hypertrophy from strength training regimens. Hypertrophy of the rotator cuff can result in overfilling of the subacromial space, leading to secondary impingement, which we have termed as “pseudo-impingement.”

Sports Imaging has dramatically increased in the past decade with increasing number of adolescents, young and middle-aged adults participating in non-competitive/hobby sports. Therefore, sports injuries are no longer confined to elite athletes. Furthermore, newer forms of sports such as mountain climbing, pickle ball and curling etc. are gaining popularity. Majority of the injuries in sports medicine are from musculoskeletal trauma. Therefore, it is imperative that the musculoskeletal radiologist becomes familiar with various sports related injury patterns as these are commonly encountered in daily practice. This update aims to briefly encapsulate the major aspects of sports imaging. It includes the imaging manifestations of various types of musculoskeletal injuries on different modalities (commonly US and MRI) and briefly mentions the various image guided interventions, performed both on the sports field and in the hospital setting.

A subset of patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) fail arthroscopic management. It is not clear which patients will fail surgical management; however, several surgical and patient factors, such as type of procedure and age, are thought to be important predictors.This time-to-event analysis with a 27-month follow-up analysis compared the effect of (1) arthroscopic osteochondroplasty with or without labral repair versus (2) arthroscopic lavage with or without labral repair on the time to reoperation in adults aged 18 to 50 years with FAI.Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.Eligible participants had been randomized in a previous study trial to a treatment of arthroscopic osteochondroplasty or arthroscopic lavage with or without labral repair. Using the comprehensive data set from the Multinational Femoroacetabular Impingement Randomized controlled Trial, all reoperations until 27 months after surgery were identified. The analysis was conducted using a Cox proportional hazards model, with percentage of patients with a reoperation evaluated in a time-to-event analysis as the outcome. The independent variable was the procedure, with age and impingement subtype explored as potential covariates. The effects from the Cox model were expressed as the hazard ratio (HR). All tests were 2-sided, with an alpha level of .05.A total of 108 patients in the osteochondroplasty group and 106 patients in the lavage group were included. The mean age of the patients included in the study was 36 ± 8.5 years. Overall, 27 incident reoperations were identified within the 27-month follow-up, with an incidence rate of 6 per 100 person-years. Within the osteochondroplasty group, 8 incident reoperations were identified (incidence rate, 3.4 per 100 person-years), while within the lavage group, 19 incident reoperations were identified (incidence rate, 8.7 per 100 person-years). The hazard of reoperation for patients undergoing osteochondroplasty was 40% of that of patients undergoing lavage (HR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.17-0.91]This study demonstrated that for adults between the ages of 18 and 50 years with FAI, arthroscopic osteochondroplasty was associated with a 2.5-fold decrease in the hazard of reoperation at any point in time compared with arthroscopic lavage.NCT01623843 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Purpose To determine whether arthroscopic osteochondroplasty demonstrated effectiveness in a pragmatic femoroacetabular impingement patient population embedded within FIRST (the Femoroacetabular Impingement RandomiSed controlled Trial). Methods All cohort patients were not randomized and were followed prospectively with a follow-up assessment protocol identical to that in FIRST. The primary outcome was hip pain using a 100-point visual analog scale. Secondary outcomes included hip function (Hip Outcome Score, International Hip Outcome Tool-12), health utility (EuroQol 5 Dimensions), and health-related quality of life (Short Form-12) at 12 months, as well as operatively and nonoperatively treated hip complications at 24 months. We performed multivariable regressions to compare these outcomes between 3 groups of patients: (1) those randomized to lavage in FIRST, (2) those randomized to osteochondroplasty in FIRST, and (3) those who received osteochondroplasty as part of the cohort study. Results All groups had improvements across all questionnaire outcomes from baseline to 12 months, with no significant differences. There were significantly more reoperations in the lavage trial group compared with those in the embedded cohort (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-7.73; P = .016). There were significantly more nonoperatively treated hip complications in the lavage trial group and in the osteochondroplasty trial group when compared with those in the embedded cohort (aOR 3.81; 95% CI 1.19-12.17; P = .024 and aOR 4.55; 95% CI 1.43-14.42; P = .010, respectively). Conclusions Hip arthroscopic osteochondroplasty and lavage led to improvement in hip pain, function, and health-related quality of life at 12 months across both randomized controlled trial (RCT) and cohort patients. The pragmatic cohort receiving osteochondroplasty had (1) significantly fewer complications than RCT patients, (2) significantly less reoperations than RCT patients randomized to arthroscopic lavage, and (3) fewer, although nonsignificant, reoperations than RCT osteochondroplasty patients. Level of Evidence II, therapeutic.

Background:Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition known to cause hip pain in young adults.Purpose:To evaluate the efficacy of the surgical correction of FAI via arthroscopic osteochondroplasty with or without labral repair compared with arthroscopic lavage of the hip joint with or without labral repair.Study Design:Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.Methods:A total of 220 male and female participants aged 18 to 50 years with nonarthritic FAI suitable for surgical treatment were recruited for the trial at 10 clinical centers in Canada, Finland, and Denmark between October 2012 and November 2017, of whom 214 were included in the final analysis. In the osteochondroplasty group, cam- and/or pincer-type lesions were resected using fluoroscopic guidance. In the lavage group, the joint was washed out with 3 L of normal saline. Surgeons were instructed to repair the labrum in both groups if it was mechanically unstable once probed, showing visible displacement or chondrolabral separation. The primary outcome was patient-reported pain (using the 100-point visual analog scale [VAS]) at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included hip function (Hip Outcome Score [HOS] and International Hip Outcome Tool), physical and mental health (12-Item Short Form Health Survey), and health utility (EuroQol–5 Dimensions) at 12 months as well as any reoperations and other hip-related adverse events at 24 months.Results:At 12 months, there was no difference in pain (VAS) between the groups (mean difference [MD], 0.11 [95% CI, –7.22 to 7.45]; P = .98). Also, 88.3% (189/214) of participants had a labral tear, of which 60.3% were repaired. For the secondary outcomes, there were no significant differences between treatment groups, with the exception of the HOS activities of daily living domain in which lavage showed significant improvement compared with osteochondroplasty (MD, –5.03 [95% CI, −10.40 to −0.03]; P = .049). By 24 months, there were significantly fewer reoperations reported in the osteochondroplasty group (8/105) than the lavage group (19/104) (odds ratio, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.15-0.89]; P = .026). The primary reasons for a reoperation included hip pain (15/27; 55.6%) and a reinjury of the labrum (11/27; 40.7%).Conclusion:Both the osteochondroplasty and the lavage groups with or without labral repair for FAI had significantly improved pain or function significantly at 1 year. By 2 years, the reoperation rate was significantly lower in the osteochondroplasty group.Registration:NCT01623843 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)

Objective To explore a novel ultrasound-guided injection technique of releasing extra-articular anterior hip adhesions in arthroscopically treated femoroacetabular impingement patients. Materials and methods IRB-approved pilot study included 24 consecutive patients referred for ultrasound-guided injection (Jan 1, 2017–Mar 31, 2018) with anterior hip pain and/or limited hip flexion following arthroscopic treatment for femoroacetabular impingement. They underwent ultrasound-guided pressure injection, releasing post-operative extra-articular adhesions between the joint capsule and flexor tendons along the arthroscopic portal followed by steroid instillation. A visual analogue pain score of 0–10 and standard Hip Outcome Score was used to record treatment response pre-injection, at 6 weeks and at 6 months following injection. Results Nine out of 11 patients (complete data group) who answered all questionnaires showed response to injection with improvement in Hip Outcome Scores at 6 weeks and 6 months. Three out of 10 patients (incomplete data group) showed significant response to injection from clinical follow-up records. No records were available in 3 patients. In total, 12 (57.14%) out of 21 patients showed response to injection. No post-procedure complications. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided pressure injection is a novel, safe, and effective procedure providing pain relief and improved hip movement as evaluated in our small sample study. The limitations of this pilot project include small sample size, lack of control group, short 6-month follow-up, and single institution study. This minimally invasive technique could be a cost-effective alternative to surgical adhesiolysis and can potentially be extended for extra-articular adhesions at other peripheral joints, amenable to ultrasound.

CARGEL (SmithNephew Inc.), a chitosan-based polymer scaffolding biomaterial, has been used since 2012 for treating articular cartilage lesions. Limited data are available on patient outcomes following CARGEL treatment. This study aimed to describe short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes in a cohort of patients treated with CARGEL and microfracture surgery for articular cartilage defects in the knee.A retrospective cohort study was conducted of consecutive patients with articular cartilage defects who had undergone microfracture surgery with CARGEL, or in patellar lesions microfracture and CARGEL plus Chondro-Gide (at SportsClinic Zurich). Study outcomes included reoperations, infections, allergic reactions, pain, swelling, range of motion, and tissue quality and quantity. Ethics approval was obtained from the local ethics committee on 05/09/2017 (Basec. Nr: 2017-01441).A total of 91 participants, with 93 treated lesions, consenting to chart review were included. No participants required reoperation due to complications on the index lesion. Fifteen participants had second-look surgery on the index knee for other reasons, allowing for visual confirmation of cartilage repair. No study participants experienced a post-surgical infection or suffered an allergic reaction. No significant changes in range of motion or T2 values were observed from pre-treatment to post-treatment follow-up. However, significant decreases were found in pain (P 0.001) and swelling (P 0.001), along with significant increases in MOCART II scores (P 0.001). Similar results were found in a subgroup of patients with patellar lesions.Patients treated with CARGEL experienced few postoperative complications and reported promising reductions in pain and swelling after treatment.IV.

High-resolution ultrasound serves as a fast, accessible, reliable, and radiation-free tool for anatomical and dynamic evaluation of various peripheral nerves. It can be used not only to identify and diagnose peripheral nerve and perineural pathology accurately but also to guide various nerve and perineural interventions. We describe the normal and pathologic appearances of peripheral nerves, the pathologies commonly affecting the individual peripheral nerves, and the current ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve interventions and techniques. Future directions are also highlighted.

Objectives: The purpose of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of high resolution ultrasound in the detection of superior labral anteroposterior (SLAP) tears of the shoulder compared to MR arthrogram. Methods and materials: 48 adult patients were included in the study. All patients had high resolution ultrasound of the superior labrum and biceps labral anchor prior to MR arthrogram. Ultrasound and MR arthrograms were evaluated separately for the presence or absence of SLAP tear using the same grading. The presence or absence of a tear and grading of the tears on MR arthrograms and ultrasound were compared and evaluated using κ statistics. Results: Both MRI and ultrasound demonstrated a SLAP tear in 27 of the 48 patients. MRI and ultrasound were in agreement on the absence of a tear in 19 patients. There was a disagreement between MRI and ultrasound in 2 of the 48 patients regarding the existence of a tear. The two modalities demonstrated substantial agreement on the presence or absence of a tear ( κ = 91.4 %, p < 0.001) as well as the grading of the tear ( κ = 84.4 %, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this pilot study, the feasibility and accuracy of high resolution ultrasound for SLAP tears were evaluated and compared with MR arthrogram. MRI and ultrasound demonstrated substantial agreement on the presence or absence of SLAP tears and grading of the tears. Advances in knowledge: This pilot study explores and supports the use of ultrasound as a screening tool for SLAP tears, especially as it is readily available, fast and inexpensive.

Lateral epicondylitis is a painful condition related to the myotendinous origin of the extensor muscles at the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. Primary treatment typically involves the use of rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and physiotherapy. However, in refractory cases where conventional therapy is ineffective, ultrasound-guided injection therapies have become a growing form of treatment. These include needle tenotomy, autologous whole blood injection (AWB), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and steroid injection. The consensus regarding the efficacy of individual approaches of ultrasound-guided treatment is unclear in the literature, and is explored further in this review.When evaluating these injection therapies individually, there are multiple case series describing the efficacy of each intervention in refractory lateral epicondylitis. A systematic review of needle tenotomy demonstrates an improvement in pain symptoms for patients with this condition, but all studies were poorly designed with no placebo or control group. Additionally, for PRP therapy, a systematic review performed in 2013 demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in pain and functionality for refractory lateral epicondylitis. However, these studies were similarly associated with a high risk of bias. Autologous whole blood injection has been evaluated through well-designed studies to show statistically significant reductions in pain with this intervention. But very few studies in total have been completed using AWB for lateral epicondylitis, and therefore no clear conclusions can be drawn at this time. Finally, corticosteroid use overall is unsupported in the evidence both in the short and long term, especially given that this condition is not an inflammatory pathology.

Background: Popliteal cysts are common and present as asymptomatic lumps in the medial popliteal fossa. Some have complex internal characteristics such as septa and loose-bodies. However, not all are popliteal cysts and can be aggressive. These lesions need to be differentiated by the absence of the communicating neck with the joint on ultrasound. Presence of Doppler flow of non-communicating cysts requires further evaluation on MRI, prior to performing a biopsy. Using a case series, we propose an algorithmic approach that is simple and will help identify the malignant lesions and institute appropriate management. Case-Presentation: Popliteal Cyst: On ultrasound: characteristic neck communicating with knee joint. Synovial Sarcoma: Gadolinium enhancement, with areas of low-, iso- and hyper-intense signal to fat on T2. Synovial-Osteochondromatosis: Non-mineralized: T1-low/intermediate intensity; T2-high intensity. Mineralized type: low intensity on T1 & T2. Thrombosed Popliteal Aneurysm: Lamellated appearance-high/low signal intensity on T2. Myxoid-Liposarcomas: Inhomogeneous appearance; homogenous with gadolinium. Usually require a biopsy for diagnosis. Conclusion: The cystic lesions in the medial aspect of the popliteal fossa can be misdiagnosed. Our article reiterates the importance of the communicating neck that separates popliteal cysts from other mimics. We have proposed an algorithm to identify these mimics.

Groin pain represents a frequent cause of disability among footballers. Groin pain in footballers is most commonly due to overuse injury as opposed to traumatic injury. Athletic groin pain presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the sports medicine physician. The complex anatomy of the hip and groin region gives rise to an extensive list of possible pathologies that all may present very similarly. Adductor pathology represents the most common cause of groin pain in footballers, but other pathologies such as abdominal, intra-articular, inguinal, and iliopsoas-related pathologies may also cause groin pain in footballers. Although the majority of groin pain pathologies can be treated with an initial trial of conservative management, the evidence for non-operative management currently available is limited. Athletes who fail conservative treatment options may ultimately require operative management. This chapter discusses return to play in footballers following non-operative management of hip and groin pain.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a clinical entity of the hip causing derangements in range of motion, pain, gait, and function. Computer-assisted modeling and clinical studies suggest that patients with FAI have increased capsular thickness compared to those without.A retrospective chart review was performed to assess relationships between capsular thickness, hip range of motion, and demographic factors in patients with FAI. Local Research Ethics Board approval was obtained to extract electronic medical records for 188 patients at a single institution who had undergone hip arthroscopy. Procedures were performed from 2009 to 2017 by a single, fellowship-trained, board-certified sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon. Inclusion criteria were preoperative hip range of motion testing, positive clinical impingement testing, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the affected hip. Patient demographics, hip range of motion, and time to surgery were recorded. MRIs were reviewed by a board-certified musculoskeletal radiologist blinded to clinical data. Maximum thickness of the anterior hip capsule was measured in axial, axial oblique, and sagittal oblique sequences. Anterior capsular thickness was also measured at the level of the femoral head–neck junction in axial sequences (axial midline). Axial midline capsular thickness was negatively correlated with hip flexion (r = − 0.196, p = 0.0042) and internal rotation (r = − 0.143, p = 0.0278). Significant differences were seen between genders in axial midline thickness (5.3 ± 1.4 mm males/4.8 ± 1.3 mm females, p = 0.0079), flexion (113° ± 18° males/120° ± 17° females, p = 0.0029), and internal rotation (23° ± 13° males/29° ± 12° females, p = 0.0155). Significant differences also existed between side affected in flexion (116° ± 17° right/119° ± 17° left, p = 0.0396) and internal rotation (26° ± 12° right/29° ± 13° left, p = 0.0029). Positive correlation was observed between axial oblique capsular thickness and flexion (r = 0.2345) (p = 0.0229). Increased anterior hip capsular thickness at the femoral head–neck correlates with limitations in hip range of motion in FAI. The strength of this relationship may be affected between pathologies, genders, and affected side. Pathologic thickening of the hip capsule may contribute to restricted hip mobility on clinical examination, and elucidation of this relationship may provide guidance into capsular management during hip arthroscopy. 4, retrospective case series.

Alpha and beta angles are commonly used radiographic measures to assess the sphericity of the proximal femur and distance between the pathologic head–neck junction and the acetabular rim, respectively. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between these two measurements on frog-leg lateral hip radiographs. Fifty frog-leg lateral hip radiographs were evaluated by two orthopaedic surgeons and two radiologists. Each reviewer measured the alpha and beta angles on two separate occasions to determine the relationship between positive alpha and beta angles and the inter- and intra-observer reliability of these measurements. There was no significant association between positive alpha and beta angles, [kappa range −0.043 (95 % CI −0.17 to 0.086) to 0.54 (95 % CI 0.33–0.75)]. Intra-observer reliability was high [alpha angle intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) range 0.74 (95 % CI 0.58–0.84) to 0.99 (95 % CI 0.98–0.99) and beta angle ICC range 0.86 (95 % CI 0.76–0.92) to 0.97 (95 % CI 0.95–0.98)]. There is no statistical or functional relationship between readings of positive alpha and beta angles. The radiographic measurements resulted in high intra-observer and fair-to-moderate inter-observer reliability. Results of this study suggest that the presence of a CAM lesion on lateral radiographs as suggested by a positive alpha angle does not necessitate a decrease in clearance between the femoral head and acetabular rim as measured by the beta angle and thus may not be the best measure of functional impingement. Understanding the relationship between these two aspects of femoroacetabular impingement improves a surgeon’s ability to anticipate potential operative management. III.

Background: The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is the ligament most commonly injured during ankle sprains. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to assess the sensitivity of Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging for ATFL with open surgery, Brostrom-Gould surgical interventional considered the gold standard. Methods: A retrospective chart review using Operating Room (OR) and MR reports from April 2008-November 2009 led to a review of 137 charts, with 15 cases meeting the inclusion criteria. Results: The sensitivity for ATFL tears irrespective of extent of the tear was 93%. For full thickness ATFL tears, 10 were found to be positive on MR but 13 on OR with a sensitivity of 77%. Of the three missed cases, 2 were described as sprain injuries and the other normal using MRI. Conclusion: The recommendations for MR assessment of ankle injury include use of dedicated sequences and understanding the “pseudoband” concept. The two full thickness and two partial thickness tears on OR described as sprain injuries on MRI had a band of inflammatory granulation tissue. This tissue accounted for the appearance of the thick continuous band at MRI, the pseudoband. This study reaffirms the usefulness of MR in determining ATFL tears, aiding surgical decision making.

This study aims to prospectively evaluate the ultrasound appearance of the normal Lisfranc’s ligament in 50 patients (100 ft) with no prior or current ligament injury. Fifty normal asymptomatic patients between the ages of 18 and 80 years were assessed. Three key features were recorded: ultrasound appearance, thickness, and length of the Lisfranc’s ligament. Patients excluded from this study included pediatric patients and those with history of injury or symptoms related to the foot. The mean right- and left-sided ligament (RT) thickness were 0.096 (0.021) and 0.104 (0.023), respectively. The mean right- and left-sided ligament RT length was 0.54 (0.11) and 0.57 (0.11), respectively. The appearance of the ligament was similar in all patients with a central thin band of hypoechogenicity lined by hyperechoic lines on either side. Understanding the normal appearance, thickness, and length of the Lisfranc’s ligament in a large sample is imperative to diagnose abnormal appearances of this ligament including sprains and tears by ultrasound. Ultrasound, with its easy accessibility, can be used in the emergency department to rapidly exclude injury of the ligament. Increased understanding and awareness of the Lisfranc’s ligament on ultrasound can allow for more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Background: While plain radiography is commonly used to assess scaphoid fracture, this imaging modality may not accurately demonstrate early bone healing. This investigation evaluates the utility of 64-slice CT in the detection of early fracture healing compared to plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Outpatients attending follow-up visits for scaphoid fractures at Hamilton General Hospital were included in this investigation. Inclusion criteria included outpatients over age of 18 who consented to attend a follow-up visit for the scaphoid fracture at 6 weeks for X-Ray, 64-slice CT and MRI scan to monitor fracture healing. Assessment of healing was independently interpreted by two radiologists specialized in musculoskeletal imaging. A total of 7 adult outpatients were accrued, with each case classified as healing, not healing, or equivocal for plain radiography and 64-slice CT scan. Results: For plain radiographs, the level of interrater agreement for evidence of healing was 57% (4/7) cases. When comparing this to CT scans, there was no discrepancy between radiologists as 100% (7/7) were found to have evidence of healing. The 64-slice CT scan demonstrated evidence of early trabecular continuity in all cases, including radiographs that were interpreted as equivocal. Conclusion: This study can be considered a pilot project for the efficacy of 64-slice CT in the assessment of early healing of scaphoid fractures. For clinicians, the multiplanar reconstruction images allows for more accurate assessment of fractures than plain radiography. CT scans are able to penetrate through bony callus that may obscure visualization of healing in plain radiography, demonstrate trabecular continuity better than plain radiographs, are readily accessible and provide faster imaging acquisition. The observations from this study may have implications in terms of duration and type of casting applied, timing of strengthening exercises, and avoiding unnecessary surgery which affect patient morbidity and cost of care.

Purpose To determine the feasibility and accuracy of ultrasound (US) -guided gadolinium injection for MR arthrography of shoulders, wrists, hips, and knee joints as an alternate technique to fluoroscopy. Methods One hundred patients referred to our center for an MR arthrogram of shoulders, wrists, hips, and knees were included in the study. There were 53 males and 47 females and ages ranged from 17 to 63 years (mean age, 37). US was used to guide the needle tip into the joint. The intra-articular location of the needle tip was confirmed by fluoroscopic visualization of injected iodinated contrast medium, prior to gadolinium injection. The patients then proceeded for the MRI examination. Results Ninety-nine of the 100 patients were successfully injected with gadolinium under US guidance. One patient had a vasovagal reaction after local anesthetic injection and the procedure was aborted. Conclusion US is an effective alternate guidance technique for the injection of gadolinium into shoulder, hip, knee, and wrist joints for MR arthrography. Its advantages are cost effectiveness, ease of performance, and lack of radiation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011

Patellofemoral syndrome (PFS) is a common etiology of anterior knee pain, particularly among young female athletes. Despite recent advancements in the resolution of MRI, there still remains a paucity of literature that has investigated the MRI findings associated with PFS. This pictorial essay will describe our institution's experience with cases of PFS and review what we believe to be a constellation of findings associated with this diagnostic entity. This review will also describe common pitfalls encountered during the diagnosis of PFS.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle lavage in treating calcific tendinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two independent assessors searched medical databases and screened studies for eligibility. RESULTS. Eleven articles were included. Heterogeneity among included studies precluded meta-analysis. Results of randomized controlled trials suggested no difference in pain relief between needle lavage and other interventions, but the studies were of low quality. CONCLUSION. Additional high-quality evidence is required to determine the relative efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle lavage in the management of calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff.

Background Computed tomography (CT) angiography for pulmonary embolism (PE) is the present standard for diagnosing PE. In many teaching hospitals, radiology residents are the first to review the case and to make an initial interpretation of the images. Accurate diagnosis of PE is crucial, especially in the emergency care setting. Purpose To evaluate the discrepancies between resident and staff interpretations of 64-slice CT angiogram for PE. Material and Methods Discrepancies between the preliminary reports by the on-call radiology resident were compared to the final report by the staff radiologist in 215 consecutive cases of 64-slice CT angiogram performed for PE, from May 2005 to March 2008. Results Discrepancies were noted in 25 of the 215 studies (11.6%). These residents’ discrepancies consisted of three false-positive, four false-negative, and 18 equivocal cases. There was a decrease in the discrepancy rate from the second year to the fifth year of training by approximately 60%. Conclusion The rate of discrepancy fell steeply between the second and fifth year of the residents training from 18.5% to 6.9%. Our study suggests that it is reasonable to have on-call radiology residents perform the preliminary interpretations of 64-slice CT for PE studies.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to document and compare the incidence of intra-articular hip pathologic findings identified using arthroscopy versus conventional imaging in patients with acute trauma to the hip. Methods This was a blinded prospective case series study designed to review the incidence of intra-articular pathologic disorders in patients with post-traumatic injury between the ages of 18 and 65 years who were referred to a single surgeon. Injuries included hip dislocation, proximal femur fracture, pelvic ring fracture, acetabular fracture, penetrating injury (gunshot wound), and soft tissue injury. Preoperative radiographs, computed tomographic (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography (MRI/MRA) scans (or a combination of these) were obtained. Findings were documented and compared with intraoperative findings. Results A total of 29 post-traumatic hips were enrolled in this study. Hip arthroscopy identified 17 of 29 hips (59%) as having loose bodies, 11 of 29 (38%) hips as having an intra-articular step deformity, 14 of 29 (49%) hips as having an osteochondral lesion, and 27 of 29 (93%) hips as having a labral tear. Plain radiographs and CT scans yielded low sensitivity when compared with arthroscopy for the identification of loose bodies and step deformities. MRI/MRA comparison with arthroscopic findings suggest that MRI/MRA is an accurate tool for identification of labral tears, because 91% of tears seen on arthroscopy were also identified by MRI/MRA. In 4 hips, however, MRI/MRA failed to identify osteochondral lesions that were subsequently identified by arthroscopy. Conclusions Traumatic injuries of the hip result in substantial intra-articular pathologic findings, including loose bodies, labral tears, step deformities, and osteochondral lesions. The arthroscope is a powerful tool in identifying these injuries. Plain radiographs and CT scans appear to underestimate the true incidence of loose bodies and step deformities within the joint when compared with hip arthroscopy after a traumatic injury of the hip. Level of Evidence Level IV, diagnostic case series.

This study was conducted to determine interrater and intrarater reliabilities on the healing assessment of femoral neck fractures between orthopedic surgeons and radiologists and to test the performance of a checklist system for hip fracture healing.We developed and used a scoring system [radiographic union score in hip fracture (RUSH) score] to determine the validity of quantifying fracture healing. A panel of 6 reviewers (3 orthopedic surgeons and 3 radiologists) independently assessed fracture healing with the RUSH system using radiographs of 150 femoral neck fractures at various stages in healing on 2 occasions 4 weeks apart.Using subjective assessment, the interrater agreement between reviewer groups for fracture healing was fair [intraclass coefficient = 0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-0.41] with no significant difference in agreement within the orthopedic surgeon and radiologist groups (0.17 vs. 0.21). There was higher agreement for fracture healing using the RUSH score (intraclass coefficient = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.30-0.69) compared with physician impression of healing, highlighting the difficulties with plain radiographic assessments of healing. Intrarater agreement was consistently high across all measures for both surgeons and radiologists. The RUSH score and medial cortex bridging correlated well with overall assessment of healing (r = 0.868 and 0.643, respectively).The level of agreement between and within orthopedic surgeon and radiologist reviewers in the assessment of fracture healing is low, though intrarater agreement is high. The RUSH score shows promise as a tool to improve agreement on fracture healing. Studies evaluating reliability and accuracy of healing with clinical information and temporal evaluation are needed and may further improve agreement.

The assessment of fracture healing following intertrochanteric fracture fixation is highly variable with no validated standards. Agreement with respect to fracture healing following surgery is important for optimal patient management. The purpose of this study was to (1) assess reliability of intertrochanteric fracture healing assessment and (2) determine if a novel radiographic scoring system for hip fractures improves agreement between radiologists and orthopedic surgeons. A panel of three radiologists and three orthopedic surgeons assessed fracture healing in 150 cases of intertrochanteric fractures at two separate time points to determine inter-rater and intra-rater agreement. Reviewers, blinded to the time after injury, first subjectively assessed overall healing using frontal and lateral radiographs for each patient at a single time point. Reviewers then scored each fracture using a Radiographic Union Score for Hip (RUSH) form to determine whether this improves agreement regarding hip fracture healing. Inter-rater agreement for the overall subjective impression of fracture healing between reviewer groups was only fair (intraclass coefficient [ICC] = 0.34, 95 % CI: 0.11–0.52. Use of the RUSH score improved overall agreement between groups to substantial (ICC = 0.66, 95 % CI: 0.53–0.75). Across reviewers, healing of the medial cortex and overall RUSH score itself demonstrated high correlations with overall perceptions of healing (r = 0.53 and r = 0.72, respectively). The RUSH score improves agreement of fracture healing assessment between orthopedic surgeons and radiologists, offers a systematic approach to evaluating intertrochanteric hip fracture radiographs, and may ultimately provide prognostic information that could predict healing outcomes in patients with femoral neck fractures.

Background Despite the prominence of hip fractures in orthopedic trauma, the assessment of fracture healing using radiographs remains subjective. The variability in the assessment of fracture healing has important implications for both clinical research and patient care. With little existing literature regarding reliable consensus on hip fracture healing, this study was conducted to determine inter-rater reliability between orthopedic surgeons and radiologists on healing assessments using sequential radiographs in patients with hip fractures. Secondary objectives included evaluating a checklist designed to assess hip fracture healing and determining whether agreement improved when reviewers were aware of the timing of the x-rays in relation to the patients’ surgery. Methods A panel of six reviewers (three orthopedic surgeons and three radiologists) independently assessed fracture healing using sequential radiographs from 100 patients with femoral neck fractures and 100 patients with intertrochanteric fractures. During their independent review they also completed a previously developed radiographic checklist (Radiographic Union Score for Hip (RUSH)). Inter and intra-rater reliability scores were calculated. Data from the current study was compared to the findings from a previously conducted study where the same reviewers, unaware of the timing of the x-rays, completed the RUSH score. Results The agreement between surgeons and radiologists for fracture healing was moderate for “general impression of fracture healing” in both femoral neck (ICC = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.42-0.71) and intertrochanteric fractures (0.50, 95% CI: 0.33-0.62). Using a standardized checklist (RUSH), agreement was almost perfect in both femoral neck (ICC = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.82-0.87) and intertrochanteric fractures (0.88, 95% CI: 0.86-0.90). We also found a high degree of correlation between healing and the total RUSH score using a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, there was an area under the curve of 0.993 for femoral neck cases and 0.989 for intertrochanteric cases. Agreement within the radiologist group and within the surgeon group did not significantly differ in our analyses. In all cases, radiographs in which the time from surgery was known resulted in higher agreement scores compared to those from the previous study in which reviewers were unaware of the time the radiograph was obtained. Conclusions Agreement in hip fracture radiographic healing may be improved with the use of a standardized checklist and appears highly influenced by the timing of the radiograph. These findings should be considered when evaluating patient outcomes and in clinical studies involving patients with hip fractures. Future research initiatives are required to further evaluate the RUSH checklist.

When assessing joints with various imaging modalities, it is important to focus on the extraarticular soft tissues that may clinically mimic joint pathology. One such extraarticular structure is the bursa. Bursitis can clinically be misdiagnosed as joint-, tendon- or muscle-related pain. Pathological processes are often a result of inflammation that is secondary to excessive local friction, infection, arthritides or direct trauma. It is therefore important to understand the anatomy and pathology of the common bursae in the appendicular skeleton. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to characterize the clinically relevant bursae in the appendicular skeleton using diagrams and corresponding multimodality images, focusing on normal anatomy and common pathological processes that affect them. The aim is to familiarize radiologists with the radiological features of bursitis.

A 77-year-old woman presented with gradually progressing right sciatica of 2 years duration. She was investigated with a magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine which did not reveal any abnormality. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis was then performed and revealed right inferior gluteal vein varicosities causing compression of the adjacent sciatic nerve resulting in sciatica. Pain was relieved by walking likely due to collapse of the vein. This patient declined surgery but benefit has been reported in similar cases.

Gluteus maximus tendonitis with its clinical and imaging patterns has been described in radiologic, orthopedic, and rheumatology texts and journals. Image-guided treatment, however, is not a familiar approach and has only been described in one case report in the English literature to the best of our knowledge. We present 4 patients with calcific tendonitis of the gluteus maximus who presented with excruciating pain in the posterior upper thigh with limitation of daily activities. The diagnosis was based on the characteristic radiologic appearances of calcifications in the tendon with cortical bone erosion and muscle edema. Treatment was with image-guided (fluoroscopy or computed tomography) injection of a local anesthetic and corticosteroid. All patients were pain-free on follow up.

A middle-aged man was being investigated for constipation. Abdominal radiographs incidentally revealed a large, densely calcified, rounded mass within the pelvic cavity. A CT scan was performed followed by surgical excision with a differential diagnosis of calcified hematoma and an enlarged calcified lymph nodal mass. Histopathological investigation revealed a primary mesenteric extraskeletal osteosarcoma. To the best of our knowledge, a primary extraskeletal osteosarcoma arising from the mesentery has not been described previously in the English literature. The radiological features and differential diagnosis are discussed.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare benign proliferative growth of the synovium of obscure aetiology with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations and imaging findings. The purpose of this review is to acquaint the reader with the spectrum of imaging features of PVNS using a variety of imaging techniques.

Background: A diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) requires careful history and physical examination, as well as an accurate and reliable radiologic evaluation using plain radiographs as a screening modality. Radiographic markers in the diagnosis of FAI are numerous and not fully validated. In particular, reliability in their assessment across health care providers is unclear. Purpose: To determine inter- and intraobserver reliability between orthopaedic surgeons and musculoskeletal radiologists. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Six physicians (3 orthopaedic surgeons, 3 musculoskeletal radiologists) independently evaluated a broad spectrum of FAI pathologies across 51 hip radiographs on 2 occasions separated by at least 4 weeks. Reviewers used 8 common criteria to diagnose FAI, including (1) pistol-grip deformity, (2) size of alpha angle, (3) femoral head-neck offset, (4) posterior wall sign abnormality, (5) ischial spine sign abnormality, (6) coxa profunda abnormality, (7) crossover sign abnormality, and (8) acetabular protrusion. Agreement was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: When establishing an FAI diagnosis, there was poor interobserver reliability between the surgeons and radiologists (ICC batch 1 = 0.33; ICC batch 2 = 0.15). In contrast, there was higher interobserver reliability within each specialty, ranging from fair to good (surgeons: ICC batch 1 = 0.72; ICC batch 2 = 0.70 vs radiologists: ICC batch 1 = 0.59; ICC batch 2 = 0.74). Orthopaedic surgeons had the highest interobserver reliability when identifying pistol-grip deformities (ICC = 0.81) or abnormal alpha angles (ICC = 0.81). Similarly, radiologists had the highest agreement for detecting pistol-grip deformities (ICC = 0.75). Conclusion: These results suggest that surgeons and radiologists agree among themselves, but there is a need to improve the reliability of radiographic interpretations for FAI between the 2 specialties. The observed degree of low reliability may ultimately lead to missed, delayed, or inappropriate treatments for patients with symptomatic FAI.