Physeal widening in the knee due to stress injury in child athletes

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006 May;186(5):1260-4. doi: 10.2214/AJR.04.1606.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of our study was to describe the MRI appearance of and possible mechanism responsible for physeal widening in the knees of high-level child athletes.

Conclusion: Widened physes in the knees of skeletally immature child athletes have MR signal characteristics similar to the normal physis but likely are a sign of stress injury. These children should cease the offending sport and rest the knee to allow rapid healing.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Athletic Injuries / pathology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Femur / injuries*
  • Femur / pathology*
  • Fibula / injuries*
  • Fibula / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Knee Injuries / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tibia / injuries*
  • Tibia / pathology*