Predictors of Discoid Morphology in Lateral Meniscal Tears: Introducing a Novel Meniscal Height Ratio.

Rationale And Objectives: Identifying underlying discoid morphology in the setting of a lateral meniscal tear (LMT) can be challenging with no clear consensus on its definition. We aim to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of discoid morphology, including a novel meniscal height ratio.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients undergoing arthroscopic repair of isolated LMT between 2018 and 2023.

Trochlear Morphological Changes in Skeletally Immature Patients Across Consecutive MRI Studies.

Background: Trochlear dysplasia is a consistent risk factor for recurrent patellofemoral instability (PFI), but there is limited understanding of how the trochlea develops during growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies performed in skeletally immature patients with and without PFI to characterize changes in trochlear anatomy over time.

Hypothesis: PFI leads to progressive worsening of trochlear dysplasia over time.

Femur osteoid osteoma in children: are there location-dependent differences in MRI findings?

Background: Osteoid osteomas are most commonly found in the femur and preferentially affect the pediatric population. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of femoral osteoid osteomas are not well described.

Objective: To systematically characterize pretreatment MRI findings of clinically confirmed femur osteoid osteomas in children and determine location-dependent differences.

A Simple Clinical Predictive Model for Arthroscopic Mobility of Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions of the Knee.

Background: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the knee is a focal idiopathic alteration of subchondral bone and/or its precursor with risk for instability and disruption of adjacent cartilage. Treatment options focused on preventing premature osteoarthritis vary depending on multiple patient and lesion characteristics, including lesion mobility.

Purpose: To differentiate lesion mobility before arthroscopy using a multivariable model that includes patient demographic characteristics and physical examination findings.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Operatively Treated Discoid Lateral Meniscus in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) is the most common congenital abnormality of the meniscus. Tears are common; treatment is frequently not definitive, often requiring reoperation.

Purpose: To report the clinical manifestations, physical characteristics, operative treatments and findings, complications, and reoperations of DLM in pediatric patients from multiple centers across North America.

Imaging Assessment of the Pediatric Elbow: Developmental Variants and Common Pathologies.

The pediatric elbow is a complex joint that undergoes rapid growth and development. The normal anatomy of the elbow varies depending on the age of the patient, which can be challenging for imaging interpretation. This article reviews developmental variants and common pathologies of the pediatric elbow, with a focus on their radiologic features.

Overuse Injury of the Epiphyseal Primary Physis.

Year-round participation in youth sport that involves high levels of repetitive movement fosters an environment in which overuse injuries are likely to occur. Epiphyseal primary physeal stress injuries (PSIs), unique to skeletally immature athletes, are a particular concern, given their potential for growth disturbance. Initially observed in Little League baseball players, these injuries are now known to affect the long bones around the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, ankle, and foot of skeletally immature athletes involved in a variety of sport activities.

The Immature Pediatric Appendicular Skeleton.

Growth and maturation occur in a predictable pattern throughout the body and within each individual bone. In the appendicular skeleton, endochondral ossification predominates in long bones and growth plates. The ends of these long bones are sites of relative weakness in the immature skeleton and prone to injury from acute insult and overuse.

Patient Characteristics and Postoperative Outcomes of Surgically Treated Inferior Pole Patellar Sleeve Fractures.

Background: Despite representing over half of all pediatric patella fractures, inferior pole patellar sleeve fractures (PSFs) are a relatively uncommon pediatric injury. As a result, existing literature on PSFs is limited to case reports and small case series. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographic and clinical characteristics of operatively treated PSFs as well as outcomes following surgical management.

MRI Features That Contribute to Decision-Making for Treatment of Capitellar OCD Lesions: An Expert Consensus Using the Delphi Method.

Background: Most healthcare providers utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assist in diagnosing and treating osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum. However, consensus on imaging features that portend clinically relevant information in the care of these lesions has not been determined.

Purpose: To conduct a survey on the MRI features of a capitellar OCD that are salient for clinical decision-making using a classic Delphi protocol.

Pediatric foot fractures on radiographs: distribution and predictors of surgery.

Purpose: To examine the distribution and characteristics of pediatric foot fractures on radiographs with respect to age and skeletal maturation, and to identify predictors of surgery.

Methods: This retrospective study included children (≤ 18 years) with foot fractures, who underwent radiographic examinations (2020-2022). Electronic medical records were reviewed to obtain demographic and clinical data.

Return to Play in Youth Athletes: Role of the Radiologist with Focus on the Upper Extremity.

Increase in youth sports participation, longer duration of play, and earlier starting points have increased the prevalence of acute and repetitive overuse musculoskeletal injuries. This rise in injury rates has led to increased efforts to better understand the susceptible sites of injury that are unique to the growing immature skeleton. Upper extremity injuries are currently the best studied, particularly those that occur among pediatric baseball players and gymnasts.

Youth soccer players: patterns of injury involving the primary growth plates of epiphyses.

Youth soccer (football) is immensely popular internationally. Earlier participation, sport sub-specialization, and year-around practice have led to an increased incidence of injury from both acute trauma and repetitive overuse. The growth plates (physes) of the immature skeleton are particularly vulnerable to injury and delayed diagnosis can lead to future growth disturbance and long-term morbidity.

Pediatric thrower's elbow: maturation-dependent MRI findings in symptomatic baseball players.

Background: Elbow pain is common among youth baseball players and elbow MRI is increasingly utilized to complement the clinical assessment.

Objective: To characterize, according to skeletal maturity, findings on elbow MRI from symptomatic youth baseball players.

Materials And Methods: This IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant retrospective study included pediatric (<18 years of age) baseball players with elbow pain who underwent MRI examinations between 2010 and 2021.

Diffusion tensor imaging of the physis: the ABC's.

The physis, or growth plate, is the primary structure responsible for longitudinal growth of the long bones. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a technique that depicts the anisotropic motion of water molecules, or diffusion. When diffusion is limited by cellular membranes, information on tissue microstructure can be acquired.

Identification of fractures on pediatric foot radiographs: do localization cues improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce interpretation time?

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy and time in the detection of fractures on pediatric foot radiographs marked without and with localization cues.

Method: One-hundred randomly selected foot radiographic examinations that were performed on children (<18 years old) after injury and with at least 4 weeks of follow-up were included. Blinded to history and diagnosis, 4 readers (one each: medical student, pediatrician, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and pediatric musculoskeletal radiologist) retrospectively and independently reviewed each examination twice (without and with cue, at least 1 month apart, and after randomization).

Automating Angle Measurements on Foot Radiographs in Young Children: Feasibility and Performance of a Convolutional Neural Network Model.

Measurement of angles on foot radiographs is an important step in the evaluation of malalignment. The objective is to develop a CNN model to measure angles on radiographs, using radiologists' measurements as the reference standard. This IRB-approved retrospective study included 450 radiographs from 216 patients (< 3 years of age).