Evaluation of a method to map tibiofemoral contact points in the normal knee using MRI

A technique using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is proposed for analysis of knee motion that is practical in the clinical situation. T1 weighted fast spin echo (FSE) and spoiled gradient echo (GE) sequences were compared to image both knees at 15° intervals from 0° to 90° flexion, while unloaded and loaded. The medial and lateral tibiofemoral contact points were mapped reliably using both FSE sequences and GE sequences with intra-class correlation (2,1) of 0.96 (CI 99%=0.94–0.97) and 0.94 (CI 99%=0.91–0.97), respectively. Results were consistent with the current literature on knee motion: the medial and lateral tibiofemoral contact pathways were different ( F 1,80=253.9, p