Young Cheol Yoon MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Yu Jin Oh MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ki Jeong Park MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ji Hyun Koo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ah Yeong Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yousun Chong MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate differences in T2 relaxation time of ankle cartilage at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging according to the status of anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL).

Talar trochlear cartilage (TTC) was evaluated in 52 subjects with ankle pain who were categorized according to the status of ATFL; normal (NL) (n = 22, mean age 40), partial tear (PT) (n = 23, mean age 39), or complete tear (CT) (n = 7, mean age 33). TTC was divided into six compartments (medial anterior, medial center, medial posterior, lateral anterior, lateral center, and lateral posterior). Mean T2 value of each compartment was obtained with multi-echo sequence. Data were analyzed with parametric and non-parametric statistical tests.

Mean T2 values of TTC showed significant difference between three groups; NL, PT, and CT (P < 0.001). T2 value between three ligamentous groups were significantly different in the compartment of medial anterior, lateral anterior, and lateral center (P=0.003, 0.002, 0.002). T2 values of PT and CT groups were significantly higher than that of NL group in the medial anterior (p = 0.015, 0.002) and lateral anterior compartment (p = 0.026, < 0.001). T2 value of CT group was significantly higher than those of NL and PT groups in lateral center compartment (P < .001, 0.031).

T2 value of TTC in patients with ATFL injury was increased at its medial anterior, lateral anterior, and lateral center compartments.

T2 mapping of the articular cartilage may be clinically useful to select patients that are at risk to develop post-traumatic OA and require ligament repair from those that are not.

Yoon, Y, Oh, Y, Park, K, Koo, J, Kim, A, Chong, Y, Correlation of T2 Value of Talar Articular Cartilage to the Status of Anterior Talofibular Ligament.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12031751.html