Physeal widening in the knee due to stress injury in child athletes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to describe the MRI appearance of and possible mechanism responsible for physeal widening in the knees of high-level child athletes. CONCLUSION. Widened physes in the knees of skeletally immature child athletes have MR signal characteristics similar to the normal physis but likely are a sign of stress injury. These children should cease the offending sport and rest the knee to allow rapid healing. © American Roentgen Ray Society.