Isolated popliteal tendon avulsion
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CLINICAL IMAGE Isolated popliteal tendon avulsion Quan Vu & Geetika Khanna Received: 8 April 2009 / Revised: 27 April 2009 / Accepted: 11 May 2009 / Published online: 18 June 2009 # Springer-Verlag 2009 A 13-year-old boy presented with lateral knee pain following a twisting injury at football. Plain radiographs revealed an avulsion fracture at the popliteal sulcus (Fig. 1, arrow). MRI confirmed avulsion of the popliteal tendon (Fig. 2, arrowhead) deep to the fibular collateral ligament (Fig. 2, arrow), with no other injury identified. The popliteal tendon originates primarily from the popliteal sulcus of the lateral femoral condyle. It then courses inferiorly, between the lateral meniscus and the joint capsule, to join its muscle belly posterior to the proximal tibia. Along with the fibular collateral and biceps femoris ligaments, the popliteal tendon is a major stabilizer of the posterolateral corner of the knee [1]. Injury to the popliteal tendon is usually seen in conjunction with injuries to other structures at the postero- lateral corner of the knee. However, isolated avulsion of the popliteal tendon has been reported [2]. The presence of an avulsed bone fragment at the popliteal sulcus should lead one to the diagnosis of popliteal tendon avulsion. References 1. Vinson EN, Major NM, Helms CA (2008) The posterolateral corner of the knee. AJR 190:449–458 2. Wheeler LD, Lee EY, Lloyd DC (2008) Isolated popliteus tendon avulsion in skeletally immature patients. Clin Radiol 63:824–828 Pediatr Radiol (2009) 39:1378 DOI 10.1007/s00247-009-1317-3 Fig. 1 Plain radiograph Fig. 2 MR image Q. Vu : G. Khanna (*) Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 510 S. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110, USA e-mail: [email protected]
Transcript of Isolated popliteal tendon avulsion
CLINICAL IMAGE
Isolated popliteal tendon avulsion
Quan Vu & Geetika Khanna
Received: 8 April 2009 /Revised: 27 April 2009 /Accepted: 11 May 2009 /Published online: 18 June 2009# Springer-Verlag 2009
A 13-year-old boy presented with lateral knee painfollowing a twisting injury at football. Plain radiographsrevealed an avulsion fracture at the popliteal sulcus (Fig. 1,arrow). MRI confirmed avulsion of the popliteal tendon(Fig. 2, arrowhead) deep to the fibular collateral ligament(Fig. 2, arrow), with no other injury identified.
The popliteal tendon originates primarily from thepopliteal sulcus of the lateral femoral condyle. It thencourses inferiorly, between the lateral meniscus and the
joint capsule, to join its muscle belly posterior to theproximal tibia. Along with the fibular collateral and bicepsfemoris ligaments, the popliteal tendon is a major stabilizerof the posterolateral corner of the knee [1].
Injury to the popliteal tendon is usually seen inconjunction with injuries to other structures at the postero-lateral corner of the knee. However, isolated avulsion of thepopliteal tendon has been reported [2]. The presence of anavulsed bone fragment at the popliteal sulcus should leadone to the diagnosis of popliteal tendon avulsion.
References
1. Vinson EN, Major NM, Helms CA (2008) The posterolateral cornerof the knee. AJR 190:449–458
2. Wheeler LD, Lee EY, Lloyd DC (2008) Isolated popliteus tendonavulsion in skeletally immature patients. Clin Radiol 63:824–828
Pediatr Radiol (2009) 39:1378DOI 10.1007/s00247-009-1317-3
Fig. 1 Plain radiograph
Fig. 2 MR image
Q. Vu :G. Khanna (*)Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology,Washington University School of Medicine,510 S. Kingshighway Blvd.,St. Louis, MO 63110, USAe-mail: [email protected]
