Quantitative analysis of distal femoral epiphysis blood supply in healthy infants with superb microvascular imaging: a pilot study

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the blood supply of the distal femoral epiphysis (DFE) using superb microvascular imaging in newborns and infants, and to investigate the correlation with ossification center (OC) length, sex, and age. A total of 140 cases were evaluated in this study. The cases were divided into 2 groups of less than 90 days and over 90 days. Cartilage blood supply was measured with vascularity index (%) (VI). The mean OC length and median VI values were measured as 10.20 ± 3.72 mm and 0.80% (0.58–1.50) for boys and 10.03 ± 3.36 mm and 0.70% (0.30–1.40) for girls, respectively. There was no significant difference in OC length and VI between sexes. The mean OC length in Group II was significantly higher than in Group I (12.14 ± 3.14 vs 8.09 ± 2.64) (p < 0.001). The median VI in Group I was higher than in Group II (1.40% vs 0.40%) (p < 0.001). There were positive correlations between age and OC length (r = 0 .716), negative correlations between age and VI (r = –0.822), and between VI and OC length (r = –0.657). Quantitative reference values for DFE blood supply and OC length can guide the diagnosis and follow-up of many skeletal diseases.