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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2022; 32(04): 505-509
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1755253
Original Article

Lateral Femoral Condyle CRATER sign of BRIK an Ancillary Sign of Lateral Patellar Dislocation

Karthikeyan P. Iyengar 
1   Departments of Orthopedics, Southport and Ormskirk NHS trust, Southport, United Kingdom
,
Kanaka Durga Prasad Bhamidipaty
2   Departments of Radiology, GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (GIMSR), Vizag, India
,
Rajesh Botchu
3   Departments of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Introduction Acute lateral patellar dislocation is a common knee injury pattern. However, coincidental osseous defect may be present in normal knees.

Purpose Evaluate the characteristics of osseous bone defect and describe a new ancillary sign associated with lateral patellar dislocation.

Materials and Methods Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 50 consecutive patients referred following a traumatic lateral patellar dislocation of the knee joint and 50 patients with knee pain without MR features of patellar dislocation were obtained for evaluation over a 7-year period. They were analyzed for location of bony defects in the periarticular region.

Results Of the 50 patients who underwent MRI following a reduced traumatic lateral patellar dislocation, 3 patients had an osseous “crater” of more than 2 mm in depth on the non-articular surface of the lateral femoral condyle. None of control group of patients had an osseous defect measuring more than 2 mm in depth.

Conclusion This associated finding of an osseous “crater” of more than 2 mm on the non-articular surface of the lateral femoral condyle following traumatic lateral patellar dislocation is a rare occurrence. We highlight this as an ancillary sign of lateral patellar dislocation necessitating careful evaluation (Crater sign of Bhamidipaty Rajesh Iyengar Kartik [BRIK]). The presence of lateral femoral condyle “CRATER” sign of BRIK on MRI undertaken for other reasons in the knee, in the absence of osseous edema may suggest a past episode of severe, reduced patellar dislocation.

Keywords

knee joint - knee injuries - patellar dislocation - radiology - magnetic resonance imaging


Publication History

Article published online:
30 August 2022

© 2022. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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