Abnormal Findings on Knee Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Asymptomatic NBA Players

Brian E. Walczak; Patrick C. McCulloch; Richard W. Kang; Anthony Zelazny; Fred Tedeschi; Brian J. Cole

doi:10.1055/s-0030-1247788

The Journal of Knee Surgery, Table of Contents

J Knee Surg 2008; 21(1): 27-33
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1247788

Original Article

Abnormal Findings on Knee Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Asymptomatic NBA Players

Brian E. Walczak¹ , Patrick C. McCulloch⁴ , Richard W. Kang¹ , Anthony Zelazny² , Fred Tedeschi³ , Brian J. Cole¹

¹The Department of Orthopedics, Chicago, Ill
²The Department of Radiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Ill
³Head Athletic Trainer, Chicago Bulls NBA Basketball Team, Chicago, Ill
⁴The Department of Orthopedics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knees of asymptomatic National Basketball Association (NBA) players via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and confirm or dispute findings reported in the previous literature. It is thought that a variety of significant abnormalities affecting the knee exist in asymptomatic patients and that these findings can be accurately identified on MRI. Two months prior to the 2005 season, bilateral knee MRI examinations of 14 asymptomatic NBA players (28 knees) were evaluated for abnormalities of the articular cartilage, menisci, and patellar and quadriceps tendons. The presence of joint effusion, subchondral edema, and cystic lesions and the integrity of the collateral and cruciate ligaments were also assessed.

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