Evaluating Lateral Tibial Condyle Bone Marrow Contusion Patterns and Associated Ligament and Meniscal Injuries Post Knee Trauma

Introduction: Knee injuries constitute a significant proportion of sports-related injuries. Osseous oedema can present in specific patterns with certain injuries Objective: This study aims to analyse the patterns of bone marrow contusion in the lateral tibial condyle (LTC) post knee trauma, categorising the condyle into anterior, middle, and posterior thirds, and to evaluate the prevalence of associated ligamentous and meniscal injuries. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 patients (92 males, 58 females) with an average age of 16.9 years, who underwent MRI within one week following knee trauma. The LTC was divided into anterior, middle, and posterior thirds for analysis. The bone marrow contusion patterns, along with associated ACL, MCL, PCL, LCL, medial meniscus, and lateral meniscus injuries, were documented. Results and Analysis: Bone marrow oedema in the LTC was observed as follows: anterior one third in 6, middle third in 13, and posterior third in 31 cases. The analysis revealed the following injury associations: Anterior one-third osseous oedema was associated with ACL injuries in two cases, MCL injuries in 3, PCL in 1, and medial meniscus injuries in 1. Middle one-third osseous oedema was associated with ACL injuries in 11 cases, MCL injuries in 3, medial meniscus injuries in two cases, and lateral meniscus injuries in 2. Posterior third osseous oedema was associated with ACL injuries in 28 cases, MCL injuries in 9, and medial meniscus injuries in four cases. Conclusion: The study highlights a clear association between the location of LTC bone marrow oedema and specific patterns of ligamentous and meniscal injuries. The posterior third, with the highest incidence of oedema, showed a strong correlation with ACL and MCL injuries, while anterior and middle oedema also demonstrated significant associations with ACL and MCL, and varied involvement of meniscal injuries. These insights contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of knee injury mechanisms, advocating for precise diagnostic strategies and potentially guiding more effective treatment protocols in radiological and orthopaedic practice.