The Role of high-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Different Stages of Subchondral Insufficiency Fracture in the Knee

Abstract

The  history of subchondral insufficiency fracture of knee is closely related to a pre-existing diagnosis of  spontaneous osteonecrosis (SONK). Previously,  it  was believed that  subchondral linear or lunate pathological changes on magnetic resonance imaging in elderly patients with osteoporosis are the result of spontaneous osteonecrosis that has occurred, but it was later found that a small proportion of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head initially  have a failure fracture, then complicated by secondary osteonecrosis. The main methods for diagnosing subchondral insufficiency fracture are radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. Magnetic  resonance imaging has demonstrated high information content in subchondral insufficiency fracture of knee.