Study on the correlation between MRI signal changes of peripatellar fat pad and patellar instability in adolescents

doi:10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2026.4.07

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Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2026, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (4) : 413-418. DOI: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2026.4.07

Study on the correlation between MRI signal changes of peripatellar fat pad and patellar instability in adolescents

Sun Senye¹, Wang Haibo¹, Wang Tao², Wang Lili³, Fang Junjie³*

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Abstract

Objective To measure the imaging parameters related to patellar instability based on knee MRI images of teenagers, comparatively analyze the morphological and signal changes of peripatellar fat pads on MRI between teenagers with patellar instability and those with normal patellofemoral joint relationships. This study aims to explore the diagnostic significance of MRI abnormal signs of peripatellar fat pads for patellar instability in teenagers and provide references for early diagnosis. Methods All subjects of this study were selected from teenagers aged 10-17 years who underwent knee MRI examinations at the Second Hospital of Ningbo from October 2020 to October 2023. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, imaging parameters related to patellar instability were measured. The subjects were divided into a case group and a control group. The number of peripatellar fat pad edema cases in both groups was counted, and data analysis was performed using statistical software SPSS 20 (IBM Corp) and R4.1.2. Results Among 340 knee MRI examinations, 162 cases, 204 cases, and 106 cases presented with infrapatellar fat pad edema, suprapatellar fat pad edema, and anterior femoral fat pad edema, respectively，respectively. There were no significant differences in age, gender, side and chief complaints between the case group and the control group (P>0.05). The incidence of peripatellar fat pad edema in the case group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the proportion of multifocal edema in the case group was significantly higher than that in the control group (35.00% vs 11.11%, P<0.001). In the case group, the majority of patients had patella alta, followed by patellar lateral displacement, and no patient showed abnormal tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distances. Conclusions Compared with the control group, teenagers with patellar instability have a higher probability of developing peripatellar fat pad edema, and patella alta accounts for the vast majority of contributing factors in these patients. Paying attention to the status of peripatellar fat pads during knee MRI interpretation can assist in the early diagnosis and clinical treatment of patellar instability.

Key words

Magnetic resonance imaging; / / Adolescent; / / Patellar instability; / / Peripatellar fat pads

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Sun Senye, Wang Haibo, Wang Tao, Wang Lili, Fang Junjie. Study on the correlation between MRI signal changes of peripatellar fat pad and patellar instability in adolescents[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy. 2026, 44(4): 413-418 https://doi.org/10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2026.4.07

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