Iliotibial band avulsion fracture: a case report with differential diagnosis

Emerg Radiol. 2016 Feb;23(1):93-96. doi: 10.1007/s10140-015-1347-0. Epub 2015 Sep 24.

Abstract

Avulsion injuries of the knee are common sequelae of significant trauma given the number of ligamentous and tendinous insertions around the joint. Commonly discussed avulsion fractures of the lateral knee include the Segond fracture of the lateral tibial plateau and the arcuate complex avulsion fracture of the fibular styloid process. A less common avulsion fracture is the iliotibial (IT) band avulsion fracture involving the anterolateral corner of the tibia (Gerdy's tubercle). It is crucial to identify IT band avulsion fractures because of the frequent associated internal derangements of the knee. This case report describes the imaging of an acute IT band avulsion fracture and compares these findings with other lateral knee avulsion fractures.

Keywords: Anterolateral corner injury; Iliotibial band injury; Knee avulsion fracture; Posterolateral corner injury.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Knee Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Knee Injuries / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Tibial Fractures / diagnosis*
  • Tibial Fractures / surgery