Diffusion tensor imaging of the sural nerve in normal controls.

Objective: To develop a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) protocol for assessing the sural nerve in healthy subjects.

Methods: Sural nerves in 25 controls were imaged using DTI at 3T with 6, 15, and 32 gradient directions. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were computed from nerve regions of interest co-registered with T2-weighted images.

Isolated adult Tillaux fracture: a report of two cases.

A fracture of the lateral margin of the distal tibia has commonly been called a Tillaux fracture, which is an avulsion-type fracture that can result from the pull of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament. The common mechanism of injury described and observed has been one of external rotation of the foot relative to the tibia. Historically, this fracture pattern has been noted in the pediatric and adolescent populations and classified as a Salter-Harris III fracture through the epiphysis.

Radiographic evaluation of the normal distal tibiofibular syndesmosis.

Background: Diagnosis of syndesmotic injuries is primarily based upon the assessment of ankle radiographs. The purpose of our study was to redefine the radiographic relationships of the ankle syndesmosis based on a large series of normal ankle radiographs in living subjects.

Methods: The study involved 392 patients (218 females, 174 males) with ankle radiographs without known clinical or radiographic evidence of abnormality.

Magnetic resonance imaging of acute patellar dislocation in children: patterns of injury and risk factors for recurrence.

Background: Acute patellar dislocation is a common traumatic condition of the knee seen in the active adolescent. The patterns of injury to the ligamentous and chondral surfaces following dislocation have not been well defined in the pediatric population. The purpose of this study was to characterize the patterns of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), vastus medialis obliqus (VMO), and osteochondral injury on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following first-time acute lateral patellar dislocation in pediatric patients.

Ultrasound evaluation of a spontaneous plantar fascia rupture.

Plantar fascia rupture is an occasional complication in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis or in patients with plantar fasciitis treated with steroid injection. Very few cases of spontaneous plantar fascia rupture have been reported in the literature (Herrick and Herrick, Am J Sports Med 1983;11:95; Lun et al, Clin J Sports Med 1999;9:48-9; Rolf et al, J Foot Ankle Surg 1997;36:112-4; Saxena and Fullem, Am J Sports Med 2004;32:662-5). Spontaneous medial plantar fascia rupture in a 37-yr-old man with no preceding symptoms or steroid injections was confirmed with diagnostic ultrasound, which revealed severe fasciitis at the calcaneal insertion with partial tearing.

Acoustic access to the prostate for extracorporeal ultrasound ablation.

This study aimed to measure acoustic access to the prostate for extracorporeal ultrasound ablation. Both transabdominal and transperineal approaches were considered. The objective was to measure the size and shape of the aperture available for unobstructed targeting of the prostate.

Musculoskeletal sonography: important imaging pitfalls.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe the pitfalls that may be encountered when performing musculoskeletal sonography.

Conclusion: Sonography of the musculoskeletal system is a useful diagnostic technique, but awareness and understanding of the pitfalls will minimize errors in diagnosis.

Non-surgical management of Achilles ruptures.

Incidence of Achilles tendon injury has increased as people continue to be active in their later years. Although acute rupture of the Achilles tendon is most commonly diagnosed using history and physical examination, improvements in magnetic resonance and ultrasound imaging have led to their routine use in evaluating these injuries. Non-operative versus operative management of acute Achilles tendon ruptures has been the subject of much controversy in the current literature, especially in light of non-operative treatment with functional bracing.

Radiographic evaluation of arthritis: degenerative joint disease and variations.

In the presence of joint space narrowing, it is important to differentiate inflammatory from degenerative conditions. The presence of osteophytes, bone sclerosis, and subchondral cysts and the absence of inflammatory features such as erosions suggest osteoarthritis. Typical osteoarthritis involves specific joints at a particular patient age.

CT-guided biopsy of bone: a radiologist's perspective.

Objective: We present an overview of approaches for bone biopsy used to minimize potential tumor seeding of adjacent soft-tissue structures and compartments. We discuss a variety of approaches related to specific anatomic parts and review pertinent anatomy.

Conclusion: We provide important guidelines and key examples that will help readers perform percutaneous needle bone biopsy safely.

Developmental Venous Anomaly Complicated by Cerebral Venous Infarction.

Developmental venous anomaly is a vascular malformation thought to be a benign embryologic variant. We describe a patient who presented with focal neurological deficits and parathesia due to an infarct associated with a developmental venous anomaly with a thrombosed draining vein.