Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Iowa Orthopaedic Journal logoLink to The Iowa Orthopaedic Journal
. 1998;18:112–117.

"Bone bruises" of the knee: a review.

C E Mathis 1, K Noonan 1, K Kayes 1
PMCID: PMC2378166  PMID: 9807716

Abstract

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is often used to assess the location and degree of ligamentous or cartilage damage in the knee following acute traumatic injury. Occasionally, these studies will also document abnormal signal within the adjacent subchondral bone. These "bone bruises" are considered incidental findings by some, while others suggest possible clinical significance. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature and consolidate current thinking on the radiographic characteristics, classification, histopathology and natural history of bone bruises.

Full text

PDF
112

Images in this article

112Figure 1
on p.112
112Figure 2
on p.112
115Figure 3
on p.115
116Figure 4
on p.116
116Figure 5
on p.116
116Figure 6
on p.116

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Coen M. J., Caborn D. N., Johnson D. L. The dimpling phenomenon: articular cartilage injury overlying an occult osteochondral lesion at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy. 1996 Aug;12(4):502–505. doi: 10.1016/s0749-8063(96)90051-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Engebretsen L., Arendt E., Fritts H. M. Osteochondral lesions and cruciate ligament injuries. MRI in 18 knees. Acta Orthop Scand. 1993 Aug;64(4):434–436. doi: 10.3109/17453679308993661. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Graf B. K., Cook D. A., De Smet A. A., Keene J. S. "Bone bruises" on magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Am J Sports Med. 1993 Mar-Apr;21(2):220–223. doi: 10.1177/036354659302100210. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Lee J. K., Yao L. Occult intraosseous fracture: magnetic resonance appearance versus age of injury. Am J Sports Med. 1989 Sep-Oct;17(5):620–623. doi: 10.1177/036354658901700505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Lynch D. A., Newell J. D., Tschomper B. A., Cink T. M., Newman L. S., Bethel R. Uncomplicated asthma in adults: comparison of CT appearance of the lungs in asthmatic and healthy subjects. Radiology. 1993 Sep;188(3):829–833. doi: 10.1148/radiology.188.3.8351357. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Lynch T. C., Crues J. V., 3rd, Morgan F. W., Sheehan W. E., Harter L. P., Ryu R. Bone abnormalities of the knee: prevalence and significance at MR imaging. Radiology. 1989 Jun;171(3):761–766. doi: 10.1148/radiology.171.3.2717748. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Mink J. H., Deutsch A. L. Occult cartilage and bone injuries of the knee: detection, classification, and assessment with MR imaging. Radiology. 1989 Mar;170(3 Pt 1):823–829. doi: 10.1148/radiology.170.3.2916038. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Nawata K., Teshima R., Suzuki T. Osseous lesions associated with anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Assessment by magnetic resonance imaging at various periods after injuries. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 1993;113(1):1–4. doi: 10.1007/BF00440586. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Robertson P. L., Schweitzer M. E., Bartolozzi A. R., Ugoni A. Anterior cruciate ligament tears: evaluation of multiple signs with MR imaging. Radiology. 1994 Dec;193(3):829–834. doi: 10.1148/radiology.193.3.7972833. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Rosen M. A., Jackson D. W., Berger P. E. Occult osseous lesions documented by magnetic resonance imaging associated with anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. Arthroscopy. 1991;7(1):45–51. doi: 10.1016/0749-8063(91)90077-b. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Speer K. P., Warren R. F., Wickiewicz T. L., Horowitz L., Henderson L. Observations on the injury mechanism of anterior cruciate ligament tears in skiers. Am J Sports Med. 1995 Jan-Feb;23(1):77–81. doi: 10.1177/036354659502300113. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Spindler K. P., Schils J. P., Bergfeld J. A., Andrish J. T., Weiker G. G., Anderson T. E., Piraino D. W., Richmond B. J., Medendorp S. V. Prospective study of osseous, articular, and meniscal lesions in recent anterior cruciate ligament tears by magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopy. Am J Sports Med. 1993 Jul-Aug;21(4):551–557. doi: 10.1177/036354659302100412. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Thompson R. C., Jr, Oegema T. R., Jr, Lewis J. L., Wallace L. Osteoarthrotic changes after acute transarticular load. An animal model. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1991 Aug;73(7):990–1001. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Vellet A. D., Marks P. H., Fowler P. J., Munro T. G. Occult posttraumatic osteochondral lesions of the knee: prevalence, classification, and short-term sequelae evaluated with MR imaging. Radiology. 1991 Jan;178(1):271–276. doi: 10.1148/radiology.178.1.1984319. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Iowa Orthopaedic Journal are provided here courtesy of The University of Iowa

RESOURCES