MRI findings in bipartite patella

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Orthopedic Imaging

Background:

• Bipartite patella is a common cause of anterior knee pain.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for diagnosing knee pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the MRI features of bipartite patella.
• To assess the prevalence of bone marrow edema within the bipartite fragment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 53 knee MRI exams with bipartite patella.
• Evaluation for bone marrow edema and abnormal signal across the synchondrosis.
• Review of 400 consecutive knee MRIs to determine prevalence.

Main Results:

• 75% of patients with bipartite patella were male.
• 66% of patients showed bone marrow edema within the bipartite fragment.
• Edema was the sole finding in 49% of patients; bipartite patella prevalence was 0.7%.

Conclusions:

• Bone marrow edema within the bipartite fragment is a significant finding.
• This edema can be the sole explanation for knee pain in nearly half of patients.
• MRI is effective in identifying the cause of knee pain in bipartite patella cases.