Point-of-care radiology service at the US Open Tennis Championships.

Professional tennis tournaments have onsite sports medicine physicians who oversee the athletes' overall health during competition, including musculoskeletal injury and general illnesses. The medical team is composed of orthopedic and non-operative sports medicine physicians. Frequently, the tournament doctors require imaging to localize and grade musculoskeletal injuries and to make decisions regarding treatment, safe training, and return to match play. The most versatile and readily available imaging modality to evaluate for acute musculoskeletal injury is point-of-care ultrasonography. In 2015, a dedicated radiology service was created at the US Open by bringing in a musculoskeletal radiologist who would perform ultrasounds in a formal and consistent manner. In addition, the radiologist was tasked with onsite radiography as well as review of all MRI examinations done at the imaging center. This article describes how this radiology service was implemented, what types of studies were performed and the advantages of having an onsite musculoskeletal radiologist at the tournament. This service allowed the medical team to provide the comprehensive and efficient medical care required in a major professional tennis event. It also showed the value of having the in-person expertise of the musculoskeletal radiologist in the sports medicine team. This same model could be applied to other professional sporting events.

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging analysis of the cross-sectional areas of the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle, cubital tunnel, and ulnar nerve with the elbow in extension in patients with and without ulnar neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the cross-sectional area of the anconeus epitrochlearis muscle (AEM), cubital tunnel, and ulnar nerve with the elbow in extension in patients with and without ulnar neuropathy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, level IV review of elbow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. Elbow MRI studies of 32 patients with an AEM (26 men and 6 women, aged 18-60 years), 32 randomly selected patients without an AEM (aged 16-71 years), and 32 patients with clinical ulnar neuritis (22 men and 10 women, aged 24-76 years) were reviewed. We evaluated the ulnar nerve cross-sectional area proximal to, within, and distal to the cubital tunnel; AEM cross-sectional area; and cubital tunnel cross-sectional area. RESULTS: We found no significant difference in the nerve caliber between patients with and without an AEM. No correlation was found between the AEM cross-sectional area and ulnar nerve cross-sectional area within the cubital tunnel (r = 0.14). The mean cubital tunnel cross-sectional area was larger in patients with an AEM. Only 4 of the 32 patients with an AEM had findings of ulnar neuritis on MRI. Of the 32 patients with a clinical diagnosis of ulnar neuritis, only 2 had an AEM. CONCLUSIONS: With the elbow in extension, the presence or cross-sectional area of an AEM does not correlate with the area of the ulnar nerve or cubital tunnel. Only a small number of individuals with MRI evidence of an AEM had clinical evidence of ulnar neuropathy. Likewise, MRI evidence of an AEM was found in only a small number of individuals with clinical evidence of ulnar neuropathy.

Postoperative changes in the tensor fascia lata muscle after using the modified anterolateral approach for total hip arthroplasty.

The modified Watson-Jones approach to the hip has been described as a minimally invasive approach with the potential for fewer postoperative complications than the traditional approach. Because the approach relies on an intermuscular rather than an internervous plane, there is potential for injury to the superior gluteal nerve. The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence of tensor fascia lata (TFL) denervation in patients undergoing this approach. Twenty-six patients underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a modified anterolateral approach. Postoperative MRIs were analyzed for signs of muscle denervation including atrophy, hypertrophy and fat replacement. At a median follow-up of 9.3months, 74% of patients exhibited either atrophy or hypertrophy of the TFL and 42% exhibited fat replacement on MRI.

Chronic Popliteus Tendon Avulsion Fracture with Chronic Knee Pain and Locking: A Case Report.

CASE: A 31-year-old man who had a chronic popliteus avulsion fracture 18 years earlier treated with physical therapy presented with new onset left knee locking after exercising at the gym. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a chronic popliteus avulsion fracture of the lateral femoral condyle. Surgical excision of the nonunited bone fragment was performed. CONCLUSION: Isolated popliteus avulsion fractures are extremely rare injuries that occur primarily in a skeletally immature patient population and for which treatment options are not well understood. Treatment options include conservative management and early surgical intervention, both of which have inherent risks and benefits. We recommend prompt imaging with computed tomography (CT) to better characterize the degree of injury and follow-up CT imaging in patients who do not undergo early surgical intervention.

Anterior hip dislocation complicated by thrombus in the common femoral vein: A case report.

CASE: A 90-year-old male sustained a low energy anterior hip dislocation without fracture after a ground-level fall. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected femoral vessel compression and thrombosis. The patient underwent placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter prior to successful closed reduction in the operating room. CONCLUSION: Anterior hip dislocations are rare events that require urgent intervention to reduce the risk of complications. One underreported complication is femoral vessel thrombosis from direct compression against the femoral head. Dedicated imaging should be considered to rule out a thrombus. An IVC filter can be placed prior to reduction attempts to avoid potential thrombotic emboli.

Long-term follow-up of perianchor cyst formation after rotator cuff repair.

BACKGROUND: Perianchor cyst formation (PCF) can occur after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) anchors; however, little is known about PCF after all-suture anchor (ASA) use. METHODS: We reviewed patients who underwent double-row arthroscopic rotator cuff repair from 2012 to 2017 with ASAs implanted in the medial row and PLLA anchors in the lateral row. We evaluated PCF (graded on magnetic resonance imaging) and compared physical examination and functional surveys between patients with PCF (WC) and without PCF (WoC) at long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Among twenty-two patients (23 shoulders), 93% of PLLA anchors (vs. 79% ASA) displayed a grade 0 PCF, P = .100. No PLLA anchors had a grade 3 or 4 PCF, compared to 11% of ASAs, P = .158. At a mean postoperative follow-up time of 113 weeks, there was no significant difference between WC and WoC cohorts with regard to range of motion, rotator cuff strength, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons survey scores, or retear rates. However, the WoC cohort had a significantly higher University of California at Los Angeles shoulder survey score at final follow-up (34.3 WoC vs. 30.9 WC, P = .024). CONCLUSION: No difference was found in PCF between ASAs and PLLA anchors. At long-term follow-up, WoC patients had significantly improved functional outcome scores, based on the University of California at Los Angeles survey, but equivalent range of motion and rotator cuff strength examinations compared with WC patients.

Analysis of Different Levels of Structured Reporting in Knee Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the most appropriate knee MRI report template that not only provides structure and consistency, but also allows enough narrative freedom for the logical organization of findings and improved communication with the orthopedic referral base. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three fictitious knee MRI reports were created using templates with different levels of structuring: unstructured free text (FT), structured with headers (SH), and highly structured and itemized (SI). These were then distributed to clinicians in the orthopedics department at all levels of training along with a survey with numerical scoring questions on report readability, usefulness, and quality. Statistical analysis was used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: Fifty-three surveys were completed with responses from residents, attendings, and physician assistants. The structured format with headers had statistically significant (p value <0.001) higher mean rank score in readability, usefulness, and quality parameters compared to the unstructured FT and highly SI report templates. Most clinicians (83%) found the structured format with headers to be the most coherent report. Conversely, 53% found the unstructured FT and 43% found the highly SI templates to be the most disjointed. CONCLUSION: Based on responses to surveys of knee MRI report templates, our results show that our orthopedic clinicians prefer some level of structure in the reports but not the rigorous itemization of anatomic tissues. A "middle ground" reporting structure which includes headers for different anatomic compartments and allows for grouping of relevant pathology, is shown to be the preferred format.

Wrist Extensor Tendon "Floating Fat" Sign: A Strong Indicator to Recognize Occult Fractures in the Distal Radius: A Case Report.

CASE: A 24-year-old woman presented with traumatic left wrist pain. X-rays were negative for fracture. Computed tomography (CT) showed hemorrhagic fatty effusions within the second and third wrist extensor tendon compartments (the "floating fat" sign) and a tiny cortical defect in the Lister's tubercle. Three weeks later, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a nondisplaced distal radius fracture with extensive marrow edema. CONCLUSION: The floating fat sign within the extensor tendon compartments is a critical sign of a distal radius fracture, which can be occult on x-ray and CT.

Dynamic Stress MRI of Midfoot Injuries: Measurable Morphology and Laxity of the Sprained Lisfranc Ligament During Mechanical Loading: A Case Report.

CASE: Our 26-year-old patient is a professional ballet dancer who suffered a classic Lisfranc joint injury while performing a dancing maneuver with his foot in full plantar flexion. Initial workup with radiographs revealed borderline Lisfranc interval widening without definitive joint instability. Further evaluation with an innovative dynamic stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed mild interosseous Lisfranc ligament laxity and sprain, which allowed the orthopaedic surgeon to pursue conservative management, rather than surgery. After physical therapy, our patient reports a successful return to dancing. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic stress MRI may become a useful technique in evaluating equivocal cases of midfoot injury through the use of new imaging-based criteria.

Sciatic Nerve Entanglement Around a Femoral Prosthesis During Closed Reduction of a Dislocated Total Hip Prosthesis: The Role of Metal-Suppression MRI: A Case Report.

CASE: A 68-year-old woman who had undergone a right total hip arthroplasty presented with a right posterior hip dislocation, and subsequently developed an ipsilateral sciatic nerve palsy after closed reduction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with metal suppression demonstrated sciatic nerve entanglement around the prosthetic femoral neck. A sciatic nerve release was performed, resulting in poor early neurologic recovery. CONCLUSION: Sciatic nerve entanglement following closed reduction of a dislocated total hip prosthesis is a rare injury. Assessment of neurovascular status before and after reduction is imperative. We recommend prompt MRI with metal suppression in patients with acute neurologic symptoms following reduction of a dislocated hip prosthesis to evaluate for acute nerve pathology and assess the need for emergency surgery.

Cervical vertebral actinomycosis mimicking malignancy in a paediatric patient.

Actinomyces spp are found in the flora of the oral cavity and vagina and may cause infection with abscess formation and draining sinuses. Cervicofacial manifestations of actinomycosis involve head and neck soft tissue, however, spread to the cervical spine is rare. We report a case of an 8-year-old boy, presenting with neck pain for 1 month and denying a history of trauma or procedures. Radiography revealed an ulceration of the posterior oropharyngeal mucosa with a defect extending to the C1-C2 vertebra, mimicking a neoplastic process. The patient underwent laryngoscopy and multiple biopsies were taken from the ulcer and bone, showing severe osteomyelitis and intraosseous filamentous organisms, morphologically consistent with Actinomyces spp. The boy received long-term antibiotics with response to treatment. Actinomycosis has rarely been reported in the cervical vertebrae of paediatric patients. This should be considered as a differential diagnosis for such a presentation as prompt antibiotic treatment may be lifesaving.

MR imaging of the sternoclavicular joint following trauma.

The purpose of this study is to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the sternoclavicular (SC) joint seen in patients who presented to our department with joint pain related to trauma. Clinical history and MRI findings on 41 patients were reviewed retrospectively to establish types and frequencies of soft tissue injuries and subluxations. Because both SC joints were imaged, the asymptomatic joints were used as a control group. Articular disk injuries were seen in 80% of patients. Injuries of the anterior, posterior, interclavicular and costoclavicular ligaments were seen in 73%, 39%, 29% and 14% of patients, respectively. Most clavicular subluxations were in the superior and posterior directions. Posterior impingement of mediastinal structures was seen in cases of posterior clavicular subluxation as well as in cases of retrosternal inflammatory or fibrotic tissue without clavicular subluxation. Biomechanical models of the SC joint are discussed to explain how different ligamentous injuries typically result in different types of subluxations.