Focal Radiolucency Research Articles

Clinical and Radiographic Findings of Septic Physitis in Foals

AbstractThe objective of this review is to detail the clinical and radiographic features of septic physitis in foals. Medical records were evaluated from 2008 to 2018 of cases that had septic physitis based on a combination of clinical and radiographic findings. Ten foals were diagnosed with septic physitis. In 8 of 10 foals, presence of a discrete, focal, irregular radiolucency centred on the physis and extending into the epiphysis and metaphysis was present. In the remaining two foals, subtle irregularity and diffuse radiolucency along the length of the physis was present. Three foals were able to later perform athletic function and two were sound but not in training (mean follow-up = 12 months). Overall, a distinguishing radiographic feature of septic physitis in foals is the presence of a focal radiolucency centred on the physis which is associated with the epiphysis and metaphysis consistent with osteolysis.

Age‐ and sex‐specific morphologic changes in the metaphyseal fossa adjacent to epiphyseal tubercle in children and adolescents without hip disorders

The epiphyseal tubercle plays an important role in epiphyseal stabilization. While the majority of studies have focused on tubercle morphology, there is a paucity of information on the morphological features of the metaphyseal fossa, where the tubercle sits on the metaphysis. The goal of this study was to determine the developmental changes in the capital femoral metaphyseal fossa. Computed tomography of the pelvis from 80 children and adolescents 8-15 years old were used to create three-dimensional models of the proximal femur. Depth, width, length, and surface area of the metaphyseal fossa were measured and the impact of age and sex on fossa morphology was assessed using the linear regression and two-way analysis of variance, respectively. The metaphyseal fossa was located in the posterosuperior quadrant of the metaphysis without any variations in the location with increasing age (P > .1). However, with increasing age, there was a reduction in all metaphyseal fossa measurements including the depth, length, width, and surface area (P < .01). No significant differences were noted for the metaphyseal fossa measurements between males and females (P > .1). The metaphyseal fossa reduces in size from 8 to 15 years of age in a similar fashion in males and females. As the metaphyseal fossa adjacent to the tubercle matches the area where a focal radiolucency has been observed in early slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), further studies should clarify the mechanisms by which the interlocking interaction of the epiphyseal tubercle and its fossa contributes to or is affected by SCFE.

Improved radiological diagnosis of palmar osteochondral disease in the Thoroughbred racehorse.

Palmar osteochondral disease (POD) is common in the Thoroughbred racehorse yet difficult to diagnose by radiography alone. To improve the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing POD from radiographs. Prospective, longitudinal study. Radiographs in nine different projections were made of metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPJ) of 50 Thoroughbreds. Post-mortem, MCPJs were dissected and gross pathology was scored. Three experienced Thoroughbred clinicians read each radiograph and recorded their findings. Another clinician reviewed each radiograph alongside the related gross specimens in order to correlate radiological findings with joint pathology. This served as a 'gold standard'. The performance of each clinician at detecting POD was compared with the 'gold standard'. Radiological features associated with POD were identified and presented to the clinicians in a training manual, prior to them re-reading the radiographs. The ability of each clinician to diagnose POD was reassessed. Palmar osteochondral disease was a common finding (88/100 joints). All three clinicians demonstrated low sensitivity and low specificity at detecting POD (mean 0.37 and 0.75, respectively). Conversely, the sensitivity and specificity for POD in the 'gold standard' was high (0.95 and 1.0). POD was associated with primary radiological features (e.g. focal radiolucencies in the palmar condyles, disruption of the outline of subchondral bone and focal sclerosis of the palmar condyles) and secondary features (e.g. basilar and apical osteophytes on the proximal sesamoid bones, flattening of the palmar condyles and cavitation of the dorso-distal aspect of the third metacarpal bone). Secondary radiographic features were often easier to detect. Following training the performance of clinicians at identifying POD was significantly improved. Only two clinicians completed the study; low proportion of POD negative cases in the study. Clinicians frequently overlook key radiological features related to POD. Alerting clinicians to relevant radiological features improved the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis.

Focal intratendinous radiolucency: A new radiographic method for diagnosing patellar tendon ruptures

BackgroundDiagnosis of patellar tendon rupture is usually based on clinical history and examination. In equivocal cases, imaging may be required. Lateral radiograph is a simple and cost-effective method for prompt diagnosis. However, no specific radiological sign has been described. Rather than utilising patella alta as an indirect measure of patellar tendon rupture, we hypothesise that a focal intratendinous radiolucency is another reliable and accurate radiological sign for diagnosis. Sensitivity and specificity analysis was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic value of this radiographic sign. MethodsLateral radiographs of mid-substance patellar tendon ruptures from 19 patients were analysed. These were then randomised with another 19 normal knee radiographs from age-matched patients to create a pool of 38 radiographs for interpretation. Six independent interpreters who were blinded to the diagnosis were requested to indicate whether rupture was present or absent based on the visualisation of a focal intratendinous radiolucency in the patellar tendon. The Insall–Salvati (IS), Caton–Deschamps (CD) and Blackburne–Peel (BP) ratios were measured in the same radiographs. Sensitivity and specificity for each of the radiographic measurements were calculated. Inter- and intraobserver correlations were reported in kappa statistics. ResultsThe average sensitivity and specificity for focal radiolucency in the patellar tendon substance were 82.5% and 95.2%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for the IS ratio were 84.2% and 78.9%, for CD was 68.4% and 84.2% and for BP was 68.4% and 89.4% respectively. ConclusionThe presence of a focal intratendinous radiolucency in the patellar tendon is both accurate and reliable in diagnosing patellar tendon ruptures.

Hip Arthroplasty Using Collarless Polished Tapered Stem -Minimum 2 Years Follow-up Results-

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical and radiologic results of total hip arthroplasty and bipolar hemiarthroplasty using collarless polished tapered femoral stem. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the results of 33 patients who underwent THA and BHA using cemented CPT femoral stem from November 2006 to April 2009. The mean follow-up period was 33 months. The clinical results were evaluated with a Harris Hip Score (HSS), and radiographic results were assessed with cement grade, osteolysis, loosening, stress shielding and subsidence methods. Results: Mean HSS improved with 91 points. Postoperative cement grade was A in 14 cases, B in 14 cases, C1 in 5 cases and D in none. Aseptic loosening was not found, while focal radiolucency in zone 8 was found. 70% of stems showed grade 1 and 2 stress shielding according to Engh’s criteria. Subsidence of the femoral stem was less than 1 mm in 32 cases, and was 1.47 mm in another case. Ectopic ossification was observed in 13 cases, class I in 11 cases, and class II in 2 cases, using Brooker’s classification. Conclusion: This study showed the good clinical and radiographic results of THA and BHA with a cemented CPT femoral stem at the mid-term follow-up. However, a long-term follow-up study will be needed to evaluate the more precise clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Analysis of the subchondral microarchitecture of the distopalmar aspect of the third metacarpal bone in racing Thoroughbreds

To determine the anisotropic characteristics of the microarchitecture of the subchondral bone (SCB) plate and trabecular bone (TBB) of the distopalmar aspect of the metacarpal condyles in horses with different stages of SCB disease. 12 third metacarpal bone pairs from racing Thoroughbreds euthanized for diverse reasons. Both metacarpi were collected from horses with SCB changes that were mild (sclerosis and focal radiolucencies; n=6) or severe (multifocal radiolucencies and articular surface defects; 6). Sample blocks of SCB plate and TBB were collected from the distopalmar aspect of both condyles and the sagittal ridge and examined via 3-D micro-computed tomography at 45-?m isotropic voxel resolution. For each sample, the angle between the principal orientation of trabeculae and the sagittal plane and the degree of anisotropy (DA) were calculated from mean intercept length measurements. Condylar samples had significantly lower angle (mean, 8.9°; range, 73° to 10.9°) than sagittal ridge samples (mean, 40.7°; range, 33.6° to 49.2°), TBB had significantly higher DA (mean±SE, 1.75±0.04) than SCB plate (1.29±0.04), and mildly diseased TBB had higher DA (1.85±0.06) than severely diseased TBB (1.65±0.06). The highly ordered appearance of trabeculae within the condyles supports the concept that joint loading is primarily transmitted through the condyles and not the sagittal ridge. The sharp changes in the trajectories of the SCB trabeculae at the condylar grooves may be indicative of hypothetical tensile forces at this location contributing to the pathogenesis of condylar fractures.

An American experience with metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasties: A 7-year follow-up study

This study reviews the clinical performance of 161 hip arthroplasties (154 patients) with the Metasul metal-on-metal articulation and an uncemented modular acetabular component. Between 1995 and 2002 clinical evaluation and radiographic follow-up of patients included Harris hip scores, patient self-assessment, and radiographs. Twelve operative site complications (7.5%) included 6 revision operations, (3.7%) and 3 other complications (1.9%) not needing reoperation. Six revision operations (3.7%) included 1 femoral revision for aseptic loosening (0.06%) and 5 acetabular revisions (3.1%). One cup revision was for recurrent dislocation, 1 for disassociation of the acetabular insert from the cup, 1 for infection, and 2 for unexplained pain. Histologic evidence did not support the diagnosis of metal hypersensitivity in either case of unexplained pain, and 1 had relief following spine surgery. A focal radiolucency, identified as calcar resorption, was observed in 9 patients.

An American experience with metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasties*1A 7-year follow-up study

<h2>Abstract</h2> This study reviews the clinical performance of 161 hip arthroplasties (154 patients) with the Metasul metal-on-metal articulation and an uncemented modular acetabular component. Between 1995 and 2002 clinical evaluation and radiographic follow-up of patients included Harris hip scores, patient self-assessment, and radiographs. Twelve operative site complications (7.5%) included 6 revision operations, (3.7%) and 3 other complications (1.9%) not needing reoperation. Six revision operations (3.7%) included 1 femoral revision for aseptic loosening (0.06%) and 5 acetabular revisions (3.1%). One cup revision was for recurrent dislocation, 1 for disassociation of the acetabular insert from the cup, 1 for infection, and 2 for unexplained pain. Histologic evidence did not support the diagnosis of metal hypersensitivity in either case of unexplained pain, and 1 had relief following spine surgery. A focal radiolucency, identified as calcar resorption, was observed in 9 patients.

FAT OPACITIES DORSAL TO THE EQUINE ANTEBRACHIOCARPAL JOINT

Radiolucencies due to fat in the soft tissues dorsal to the equine antebrachiocarpal joint were studied in 12 necropsy specimens. In lateral‐to‐medial xeroradiographs of these 12 specimens, focal radiolucencies were present in ten, one focal radiolucency was present in one, and no focal radiolucencies were present in ten, one focal radiolucency was present in one, and no focal radiolucencies were in another. These radiolucencies were identified as fat in the antebrachiocarpal joint capsule. The fat was in two locations within this joint capsule. It was associated with the synovial membrane of the extensor carpi radialis tendon sheath and the synovial membrane of the antebrachiocarpal joint.