The development of the intercondylar notch in the pediatric population.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair is increasing in frequency in younger children. Recognition of the normal development of the intercondylar notch is important for successful ACL graft placement, allowing surgeons to better understand the anatomy and risk factors related to ACL tears and its reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to compile normative data on the intercondylar notch in the pediatric population with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), emphasizing the differences between males and females. METHODS: In this retrospective study, musculoskeletal radiologists evaluated intercondylar notch width, bicondylar distance and notch width index (NWI). A total of 253 MRI examinations (130 males and 123 females between six and 18 years of age) were included. The association between measurements, sex and age was considered. Linear and fractional polynomial regression models were used to evaluate the relationships between measurements. RESULTS: Intercondylar notch width increased up to 10 years of age in females and 11 years of age in males, with relative stabilization up to 13 years in girls and 14 years in boys and a slight reduction in values at subsequent ages. Bicondylar distance showed significant progressive growth with age in both sexes. NWI showed a discrete and homogenous reduction with age in both sexes. CONCLUSION: Intercondylar notch width interrupts its growth around 10-11 years of age, with relative stabilization up to 13-14 years and a slight reduction in dimensions in subsequent ages. This growth pattern resembles the development of the ACL area observed in recent studies.

The development of the anterior cruciate ligament in the paediatric population.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to retrospectively compile normative data on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the paediatric population with magnetic resonance imaging, emphasizing the differences between men and women. METHODS: In this retrospective study, musculoskeletal radiologists evaluated length, area, coronal and sagittal inclination of the ACL and inclination of the intercondylar notch. A total of 253 MR examinations (130 males and 123 females between 6 and 18 years of age) were included. The association between measurements, sex and age was considered. Linear and fractional polynomial regression models were used to evaluate the relationships between measurements. RESULTS: ACL length showed significant progressive growth (p < 0.001) with age in men and women, without characterization of growth peaks. ACL area in women showed more pronounced growth up to 11 years, stabilized from 11 to 14 years and then sustained a slight reduction. In men, ACL area showed more pronounced growth up to 12 years, stabilized from 12 to 15 years and then sustained slight reduction. Coronal and sagittal inclination of the ACL showed a significant progressive increase (p < 0.001) with age in both sexes, progressively verticalizing. The intercondylar roof inclination angle showed significant progressive reduction (p < 0.001) with age in both sexes. CONCLUSION: The area of the ACL does not accompany skeletal maturation, interrupting its growth around 11-12 years. Progressive verticalization of the ACL as well as of the intercondylar notch roof in the evaluated ages was also observed. The clinical relevance of this study is that the ACL presents different angular and morphologic changes during growth in the paediatric population. Since ACL repair is now being performed on younger children, recognition of the normal developmental changes of the ACL is of utmost importance for successful ACL graft placement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Hemibalismo-hemicoreia em estado hiperglicêmico não cetótico: distúrbio do movimento associado ao diabetes melito / Hemiballism-hemichorea with non-ketotic hyperglycemia: movement disorder related to diabetes mellitus

O diabetes melito, especialmente quando descompensado, pode culminar em várias complicações neurológicas, sendo o desenvolvimento de movimentos involuntários uma das formas mais raras. O estado hiperglicêmico não cetótico em pacientes idosos, que se apresentam com movimentos tipo balismo-coreia associados a alterações nos exames de imagem cerebral (tomografia computadorizada e/ou ressonância magnética), constitui uma síndrome de caracterização recente e de poucos relatos na literatura. Apresentamos o caso de um paciente admitido com história de movimentos involuntários do tipo hemibalismo-hemicoreia à esquerda associado a estado hiperglicêmico com hemoglobina glicada de 14,4 por cento. O exame tomográfico de crânio revelou área hiperdensa em topografia de gânglios da base à direita. Após controle glicêmico adequado, houve melhora progressiva e recuperação do quadro neurológico, com desaparecimento completo da lesão hiperdensa inicial.

Diabetes mellitus, especially when not under control, can lead to several neurological complications being the development of involuntary movements one of the rarest presentations. Nonketotic hyperglycemia in aged patients who present with ballismus-chorea movements and cerebral image alterations in computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance constitute a syndrome of recent characterization and few cases in literature. We present a case of a 75 year-old male patient admitted with history of hemiballismus-hemichorea movements, hyperglycemia, glycated hemoglobin of 14.4 percent and CT with a hyperdense area in the topography of the right basal ganglia. After glycemic control, the neurological signs resolved completely and the initial hyperdense lesion disappeared.