Weight-bearing MRI with a knee flexion angle of 20°: a study on additional MRI investigation modalities to support a more accurate understanding of patellofemoral instability

Background Diagnosing patellofemoral instability disorders correctly, weight-bearing MRI (WB-MRI) has become an option. Aiming for a best possible accuracy in displaying potentially underlying causes, the named MRI modalities were sporadically even investigated in different knee flexion angles. However, despite confirmed MRI-outcome-differences between WB-MRI and non-WB-MRI, none of the described MRI modalities have so far established themselves. Mainly this is due to an unfeasibility in daily clinical routine in regard to time and economic aspects. Thus, we intended to evaluate an additional but reduced patellofemoral MR-imaging solely in a relevant 20 degrees of knee flexion under WB- and non-WB-MRI conditions. Methods Seventy-three subjects with and without patellofemoral instability were investigated under supine as well as under WB-MRI conditions in a 20 degrees of knee flexion angle. Patellofemoral risk indices in the sagittal plane (Insall-Salvati-Index, Caton-Deschamps-Index, Patellotrochlear Index) and the axial plane (Patella tilt of Fulkerson and Sasaki) were detected and compared between the different MRI conditions. Significance, reliability and Cohen's effect size was calculated. Results Nearly all assessed indices showed significant differences between patients and controls in the different MRI positions. Comparing pairwise, all measured indices failed to show significant differences between the two MRI positions. However, patella tilt angles of the patient group showed an elevation from supine to WB-MRI (14.00 +/- 7.54 degrees to 15.97 +/- 9.10 degrees and 16.34 +/- 7.84 degrees to 18.54 +/- 9.43 degrees). Here, Cohen's d showed small to medium effects between supine and WB-MRI. Conclusion In comparison to standard MRI in supine position, axial risk indices seem to be accentuated under WB-MRI and a knee flexion angle of 20 degrees. In particular, symptomatic cases with inconspicuous conventional MRI imaging, additional MRI imaging only in the axial plane in a 20 degrees of knee flexion could be beneficious and useful in clinical daily routine.