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Evaluation of incidence, clinical significance, and prognostic value of circulating cardiac troponin I and T elevation in hemodynamically stable patients with suspected myocardial contusion after blunt chest trauma.

BACKGROUND: The frequency and prognostic influence of myocardial injury in patients with blunt chest trauma is controversial. We investigated the value of cardiac troponin I (cTn-I) and cardiac troponin T (cTn-T), highly specific markers of myocardial injury, to determine whether their measurement would improve the ability to detect myocardial contusion in stable patients with blunt chest trauma in comparison with conventional markers and whether they were associated with significantly worse late clinical outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Over an 18-month period, myocardial contusion was diagnosed in 26 of 94 patients (27.6%) with acute blunt chest trauma (motor vehicle crash; 81%), because of echocardiographic abnormalities (n = 12), electrocardiographic abnormalities (n = 29), or both. Patients with myocardial contusion had a significantly higher Injury Severity Score at the time of admission (p = 0.001) and a significantly longer hospital stay (p = 0.0008). All patients survived admission to hospital and were hemodynamically stable. None of the patients died or had severe in-hospital cardiac complications. The percentage of patients with elevated CK, (CK-MB/total CK) ratio, or CK-MB mass concentration was not significantly different between patients with or without myocardial contusion. However, there were significant differences between the two groups when we applied the commonly used threshold levels of CK-MB activity and myoglobin. The percentage of patients with elevated circulating cTn-I and cTn-T (> or = 0.1 microg/L) was significantly higher in patients with myocardial contusion (23% vs. 3%; p = 0.01 and 12% vs. 0%; p = 0.03, respectively). Complete changes in cTn-I and cTn-T correlated well (r = 0.91, p = 0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of cTn-I and cTn-T in predicting a myocardial contusion in blunt trauma patients were 23%, 97%, and 77%, 75%, and 12%, 100%, and 74%, 100%, respectively. Clinical follow-up was available in 83 patients (88%) (mean, 16 +/- 7.5 months). There were no deaths in either group directly attributed to cardiac complications. None of the patients had any long-term cardiac complications or myocardial failure related to blunt chest trauma. CONCLUSION: Although improved specificity of cTn-I and cTn-T compared with conventional markers, it should be emphasized that the main problem with cTn-I and cTn-T is low sensitivity as well as low predictive values in diagnosing myocardial contusion. cTn-I and cTn-T measurement is currently not an improved method in diagnosing blunt cardiac injury in hemodynamically stable patients. Moreover, there was no association of postmyocardial contusion cell injury and late outcome in these patients when cTn-I and cTn-T and other conventional markers were considered.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗

Effects of cardiac contusion in isolated perfused rat hearts.

Myocardial contusion is frequently suspected after blunt chest trauma, but the exact mechanisms of resulting cardiac dysfunction and the time course for enzymatic alterations have not yet been fully understood. Therefore, we investigated pathophysiological aspects of myocardial contusion in a controlled animal model. Male Wistar rat hearts were studied in an isolated perfusion model and were divided into two groups: control (n = 4) and heart contusion (n = 6) groups. The cardiac contusion was produced by a single blow with a weighted pendulum (m = 44 g, height = 20 cm). Functional implications of the contusion were examined in an "isolated perfused heart" model. Troponin 1 concentrations were determined in the perfusate. Cardiac contusion resulted in an increase of coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) of 9 mmHg (P < 0.05, 20 min postcontusion versus baseline and control), followed by a significant increase of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) of 6 mmHg (P < 0.05, 20 min postcontusion versus baseline and control). Heart contusion was followed by an early increase of troponin 1 (+0.82 ng/mL). The troponin 1 concentration decreased again and, after 20 min, baseline levels were reached. The control group showed no such changes. In this model, high troponin 1 levels after cardiac contusion suggest direct damage to the myocardium. First functional response was shown by the alteration of the coronary perfusion, followed by impaired diastolic function, which persisted even after lowering of the troponin 1 levels.

Animals↗

Effect of lignocaine in myocardial contusion: an experiment on rabbit isolated heart.

1. The reported incidence of myocardial contusion after blunt chest trauma varies from 16 to 76%. Of these patients, about 6% present a severe, life threatening contusion. We used an isolated heart preparation to examine the effect of lignocaine on myocardial performance after contusion. 2. Thirty hearts obtained from male New Zealand rabbits were perfused at constant flow according to the Langendorff technique and were divided into four groups. The following parameters were measured at frequent intervals for 60 min: mean coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP), developed pressure (DP), dP/dtmax, dP/dtmin. 3. Group 1 (n = 6) served as control, group 2 (n = 7) received lignocaine for 20 min (15 microM for the first 10 min and 30 microM for the following 10 min), group 3 (n = 9) had a contusion leading to a 30-50% decrease in dP/dtmax and group 4 (n = 8) had the contusion and the lignocaine infusion was started 10 min after the contusion and stopped after 30 min. Lignocaine concentration was measured in the effluent. 4. Lignocaine alone moderately decreased contractility in group 2. In group 3, after contusion, DP, dP/ dtmax, and dP/dtmin were markedly decreased during the 60 min recording period. In group 4, lignocaine infusion rapidly restored contractility. DP, dP/dtmax and dP/dtmin returned towards their basal values. This improvement of contractility remained stable, even after lignocaine infusion was discontinued. 5. In our rabbit isolated heart preparation, lignocaine at a low therapeutic concentration was able to restore contractility after contusion. These results need to be confirmed by other studies but this may lead to promising therapeutic intervention.

Analysis of Variance↗

Bone contusions of the posterior lip of the medial tibial plateau (contrecoup injury) and associated internal derangements of the knee at MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To determine if there are any predictable patterns of internal derangement associated with a bone contusion of the posterior lip of the medial tibial plateau at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and to offer a biomechanical explanation for the findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 215 consecutive MR examinations for knee trauma was conducted to identify contusions of the posterior lip of the medial tibial plateau. Any additional contusions and internal derangements were documented in the cases with these contusions. Medical charts and arthroscopic results, when available, were reviewed for mechanisms of injury. RESULTS: The specific medial tibial contusion was demonstrated in 25 of 215 (12%) knee MR examinations. Associated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears were found in 25 of the 25 (100%) examinations. Injury to the meniscocapsular junction (14 of 25) or a peripheral tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (10 of 25) occurred in a combined 96% of the cases. Lateral compartment contusions were noted in 24 (96%) cases. Pivot, twisting, or valgus forces were reported mechanisms of injury. CONCLUSION: Contusions involving the posterior lip of the medial tibial plateau may result from a contrecoup impaction injury directly following an ACL tear, as the knee reduces. These contusions are almost always associated with a far peripheral meniscal tear or with a meniscocapsular junction injury affecting the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.

Adolescent↗

Oedema fluid formation within contused brain tissue as a cause of medically uncontrollable elevation of intracranial pressure: the role of surgical therapy.

In patients with focal cerebral contusions, medical therapies have generally been advocated unless haemorrhages significantly contributing to the elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) exist. We report here several lines of clinical evidence which indicate that (1) enormous amount of extracellular oedema fluid is formed within contused brain tissue, (2) the formation of extracellular oedema fluid within contused brain tissue alone can be a cause of medically uncontrollable elevation of ICP and (3) surgical excision of the contused brain tissue provides excellent control of the elevated ICP in such patients. The excision of contused brain tissue appears to be the only therapy currently available to alleviate the formation of extracellular oedema fluid in cerebral contusions. We believe that, if ICP is elevated primarily by extracellular oedema due to cerebral contusions and the elevated ICP is medically uncontrollable, surgical excision of contused brain tissue should be carried out without delay regardless of the size of associated haemorrhages.

Body Fluids↗

In vivo 1H MR spectroscopic findings in traumatic contusion of ICR mouse brain induced by fluid percussion injury.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the proton metabolic differences of the right parietal cortex with experimental brain contusions of ICR mouse induced by fluid percussion injury (FPI) compared to normal controls and to test the possibility that 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings could provide neuropathologic criteria in the diagnosis and monitoring of traumatic brain contusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A homogeneous group of 20 ICR male mice was used for MRI and in vivo 1H MRS. Using image-guided, water-suppressed in vivo 1H MRS with a 4.7 T MRI/MRS system, we evaluated the MRS measurement of the relative proton metabolite ratio between experimental brain contusion of ICR mouse and healthy control subjects. RESULTS: After trauma, NAA/Cr ratio, as a neuronal marker decreased significantly versus controls, indicating neuronal loss. The ratio of NAA/Cr in traumatic brain contusions was 0.90+/-0.11, while that in normal control subjects was 1.13+/-0.12 (P=0.001). The Cho/Cr ratio had a tendency to rise in experimental brain contusions (P=0.02). The Cho/Cr ratio was 0.91+/-0.17, while that of the normal control subjects was 0.76+/-0.15. However, no significant difference of Glx/Cr was established between the experimental traumatic brain injury models and the normal controls. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The present 1H MRS study shows significant proton metabolic changes of parietal cortex with experimental brain contusions of ICR mouse induced by FPI compared to normal controls. In vivo 1H MRS may be a useful modality for the clinical evaluation of traumatic contusions and could aid in better understanding the neuropathologic process of traumatic contusions induced by FPI.

Animals↗

Bilateral frontal cortical contusion in rats: behavioral and anatomic consequences.

The purpose of this study was to develop a bilateral model of frontal cortical contusion in the rat that would demonstrate reproducible deficits typically found after frontal lobe injury in humans. We used a pneumatically controlled cortical impactor to create bilateral contusions of the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Cognitive, neurologic, physiologic, and histopathologic measures were used to evaluate changes caused by the injury. The cognitive task employed the Morris water maze (MWM). Contused rats performed worse than sham-operated controls on measures of time taken to find a submerged platform, distance to the platform, and swim strategy. Neurologic measures revealed impairments of tongue mobility and transient deficits of forelimb placing. Body weights of the contused rats were chronically reduced with respect to controls, indicating that cortical contusion produces disruption in homeostasis. All rats given bilateral PFC contusions developed marked necrotic cavities at the site of impact. The borders surrounding the cavities were heavily lined with astrocytes and ameboid microglia. There was subcortical gliosis in the medial caudate that extended throughout the rostral-caudal length of the caudate-putamen and into the mediodorsal (MD) and ventrolateral (VL) nuclei of the thalamus. The thalamus was also the site of distal transneuronal degeneration. In both the MD and the VL, there was significant neuronal loss in the contused rats as compared with sham-operated controls. This method of bilateral cortical contusion demonstrates clear, reproducible results that would be required for the development of future pharmacologic therapies designed to promote functional recovery.

Animals↗

Severe controlled cortical impact in rats: assessment of cerebral edema, blood flow, and contusion volume.

Controlled cortical impact (CCI) is a contemporary model of experimental cerebral contusion. We examined the cerebrovascular and neuropathologic effects of a severe CCI in rats. The utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the assessment of contusion volume after severe CCI was also established. Severe CCI (3.0 mm depth, 4 m/sec velocity) to the left (L) parietal cortex was produced in anesthetized (isoflurane/N2O/O2), intubated, and mechanically ventilated male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 58). Physiologic parameters were controlled. The time course of alterations in edema [L-R% brain water (% BW) in 3-mm coronal sections through injured and contralateral hemispheres, wet-dry weight] was evaluated at 2 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 7 days posttrauma. Local cerebral blood flow (ICBF, measured in 8 structures in each hemisphere by autoradiography) was evaluated at 2 h, 24 h, and 7 days. Contusion volume (measured by histology and image analysis) was assessed at 14 days and measured in 6 rats by both MRI and histology. The survival rate after severe CCI was 96.2%. The L-R difference in % BW increased to 1.69 +/- 0.18% at 2 h, 3.00 +/- 0.08% at 24 h, 2.69 +/- 0.09% at 48 h, and 0.94 +/- 0.21% at 7 days. These values all differed from the control (p < 0.05). The % BW was greater at 24 h and 48 h than at 2 h and 7 days (p < 0.05). Marked reductions in ICBF were limited to structures in the injured hemisphere and were observed in the parietal cortex (2 and 24 h), subcortical white matter (2 and 24 h), and hippocampus (2 h), (p < 0.05) vs control rats. In the contusion core, ICBF was 19.4 +/- 8.8 mL 100 g-1 min-1 at 24 h (p = 0.011 vs normal). Necrosis was seen in large portions of the parietal cortex and subcortical white matter, and portions of the hippocampus and thalamus. Contusion volume was 47.8 +/- 9.2 mm3, which represented 14.4 +/- 2.1% of the traumatized hemisphere. Estimates of contusion volume by MRI and histology were closely correlated (r = 0.941, p < 0.017). Severe CCI in rats is accompanied by contusion, reproducible edema, and marked hypoperfusion, involving over 14% of the injured hemisphere, and can be produced with minimal mortality. T2-weighted MRI successfully and noninvasively identifies contusion volume in this model.

Animals↗

[Changes in local cerebral glucose utilization, DC potential and extracellular potassium in various degree of experimental cerebral contusion].

UNLABELLED: Pathophysiology of the traumatized brain, especially that of cerebral contusion, is very complex and has not been well understood. In recent years, changes in extracellular ion concentration have been known in various pathological conditions such as cerebral concussion, spinal contusion, ischemia, hypoglycemia, epilepsy and spreading depression as one of the triggers to lead to secondary brain damage. To know the metabolic and ionic changes following cerebral contusion, the authors made various degree of cerebral contusion by fluid percussion method, and observed successive changes in EEG, DC potential, extracellular potassium concentration and local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using 42 male Wistar rats, mild (0.2 kg/cm2), moderate (0.4 kg/cm2) and severe contusion (0.6 kg/cm2) were made in the left lower parietal region of the rats. EEG, DC potential and extracellular potassium concentration (using potassium sensitive glass microelectrode) were monitored for four to five hours after making the contusions. LCGU (by 14C-2-deoxyglucose method) was studied at the time of the negative shift of DC potential. RESULTS: The negative shift of DC potential with EEG suppression was observed at 30 min. to 3 hours after injury. The severer the injury was, the earlier and the more frequent negative shifts appeared. LCGU showed no significant changes in the mild injury group. In the moderate injury group, frequent negative shifts of DC potential associated with EEG suppression were observed. A 20% increase of glucose utilization in the cortex of the lesion side was observed whereas 50% decreases in the subcortical structures were found. In the severe injury group, EEG was suppressed immediately after contusion and had never recovered. DC potential fluctuated and was unstable. The increase of LCGU was noted not only in the cortex of the lesion side but also in some of the subcortical structures (hippocampus, caudate nucleus, dentate nucleus and thalamus). The extracellular potassium concentration rose to 30 mM, being correlated closely with DC potential. DISCUSSION: Increase of LCGU associated with EEG suppression, negative shift of DC potential and elevation in extracellular potassium concentration was thought to be due to spreading depression. It was postulated that spreading depression following cerebral contusion causes energy failure and can lead to secondary brain damage.

Animals↗

Quantitative assessment of respiratory function following contusion injury of the cervical spinal cord.

In this study, we describe a new method for quantitative assessment of phrenic inspiratory motor activity in two models of cervical spinal cord contusion injury. Anesthetized rats received contusion injury either to the descending bulbospinal respiratory pathway on one side of the spinal cord alone (C2 lateralized contusion) or to both the descending pathway, as well as the phrenic motoneuron pool bilaterally (C4/C5 midline contusion). Following injury, respiratory-associated phrenic nerve motor activity was recorded under standardized and then asphyxic conditions. Phrenic nerve efferent activity was rectified, integrated, and quantitated by determining the mean area under the integrated neurograms. The mean integrated area of the four inspiratory bursts recorded just before turning off the ventilator (to induce asphyxia) was determined and divided by the integrated area under the single largest respiratory burst recorded during asphyxia. This latter value was taken as the maximal inspiratory motor response that the rat was capable of generating during respiratory stress. Thus, a percentage of the maximal inspiratory motor drive was established for breathing in control and injured rats under standardized conditions. The results indicate that noninjured rats use 52 +/- 1.8% of maximal inspiratory motor drive under standardized conditions. In C2-contused rats, the results showed that while the percentage of maximal inspiratory motor drive on the noncontused side was similar to the control (55 +/- 4.1%), it was increased on the contused side (78 +/- 2.6%). In C4/5 lesions, the results indicate that this percentage was increased on both sides (77 +/- 4.4%). The results show the feasibility for performing quantitative evaluation of respiratory dysfunction in an animal model of cervical contusion injury. These findings lend to further development of this model for investigations of neuroplasticity and/or therapeutic interventions directed at ameliorating respiratory compromise following cervical spinal cord trauma.

Animals↗

Cardiac contusion in pediatric patients with blunt thoracic trauma.

To investigate the prevalence of myocardial contusion associated with blunt chest trauma in the pediatric age group, all patients admitted to our institution during a 6-month period with blunt thoracic trauma severe enough to produce a pulmonary contusion or rib fracture were prospectively evaluated. Cardiac evaluation was undertaken, including a multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) cardiac scan, serial electrocardiograms (ECG), and serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and CPK isoenzymes. Seven patients, ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 18 years, with rib fractures or pulmonary contusion by chest roentgenograph were identified. One patient was injured as a passenger in a motor vehicle accident, five were struck by automobiles as pedestrians, and one sustained traumatic asphyxia when a car, supported by a jack, fell on his chest. All had at least one other major organ system injured. All patients had pulmonary contusions as determined by chest radiograph, and two had associated rib fractures. In 43% (three of seven) of patients, a significant cardiac contusion was identified, defined by abnormal right or left ventricular wall motion and a decreased ejection fraction on MUGA scan, and confirmed by an increase in cardiac enzymes and isoenzymes. However, in contrast with adults, no patients had ECG abnormalities. This limited series suggests that cardiac contusion may occur frequently in pediatric patients who have suffered from blunt thoracic trauma significant enough to result in pulmonary contusion. An MUGA scan provides a rapid, noninvasive assessment of cardiac damage in this setting. Further studies will be required to determine the clinical significance and long-term consequences of traumatic myocardial damage in the pediatric population.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Up-regulation of 5-HT2 receptors is involved in the increased H-reflex amplitude after contusive spinal cord injury.

The amplitude of the H-reflex increases chronically after incomplete SCI and is associated with the development of exaggerated hindlimb reflexes. Although the mechanism for this increased H-reflex is not clear, previous studies have shown that pharmacological activation of the 5-HT2 receptors (5-HT2R) can potentiate the monosynaptic reflex. This study tested the hypothesis that increased expression of 5-HT2R on motoneurons is involved in increased H-reflex amplitude after a standardized clinically relevant contusive SCI. Adult female rats were subjected to contusion, complete surgical transection, or a T8 laminectomy only. At 4 weeks after surgery, H-reflex recordings from the hindpaw plantar muscles of contused rats showed twice the amplitude of that in laminectomy controls or transected rats. To probe the role of 5-HT2R in this increased amplitude, dose-response studies were done with the selective antagonists mianserin or LY53857 and the 5-HT2R agonist (+/-)-1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane hydrochloride (DOI). The drugs were intrathecally infused into the lumbar cord while recording the H-reflex. Mianserin did not have any significant effects on the H-reflex after transection, consistent with the loss of distal serotonergic innervation. After contusion, both 5-HT2R antagonists reduced the H-reflex reflex amplitude with a significantly higher ID50 compared to the uninjured controls. The 5-HT2R agonist DOI significantly increased reflex amplitude in contused but not control rats. Furthermore, while 5-HT immunoreactivity was similar, contused rats displayed increased 5-HT2AR immunoreactivity in plantar muscle motoneurons compared to uninjured controls. We conclude that increased expression of 5-HT2R is likely to be involved in the enhanced H-reflex that develops after contusive SCI.

Amphetamines↗

Subpleural sparing: a CT finding of lung contusion in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the presence of subpleural sparing as an aid in differentiation of contusion from other causes of lung opacification in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 29 children, the computed tomographic (CT) features of 40 lung contusions were reviewed for the presence of subpleural sparing. Other CT characteristics of lung contusion such as location, shape, and confluence were also evaluated. The presence of subpleural sparing was also evaluated in cases of atelectasis, pulmonary laceration, and a control group of CT scans obtained in 45 patients with bacterial pneumonia and no history of trauma. RESULTS: Subpleural sparing was seen at CT in 38 (95%) of the lung contusions and none of the cases of atelectasis, laceration, or pneumonia (P = .0001). Lung contusions tended to be posterior (60%), crescentic (50%), or amorphous (45%) and have confluent and nodular components (70%). CONCLUSION: The presence of subpleural sparing on CT scans enables accurate identification of lung contusion and differentiation of contusion from other causes of lung opacification in children after trauma.

Case-Control Studies↗

Pathophysiology of pulmonary contusion in dogs.

We produced a localized right lower lobe (RLL) contusion in 14 anesthetized ventilated dogs, 7 of which were treated with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP group). We measured gas exchange, pulmonary mechanics, and regional function before and 5 h after the contusion. Arterial PO2 decreased by 20 Torr and venous admixture doubled in both groups during air breathing. The shunt fraction (Qs/Qt) was minimally increased, despite a large lobar Qs/Qt (0.43) in the contused RLL. These results were explained by reduced ventilation per unit volume (VA/V), and ventilation-to-perfusion ratios of the contused RLL measured with 133Xe technique. We conclude that pulmonary contusion causes a leak of blood and plasma, flooding 25% of the air spaces of the RLL at FRC, reducing the compliance of adjacent air spaces, and resulting in a reduced VA/V and a large RLL Qs/Qt. These results are consistent with the observed reduction in regional volume and perfusion in the contused RLL, and suggest that Qs/Qt was not increased because blood flow was markedly reduced to flooded air spaces. PEEP reduced the hypoxemia, but increased the contusion.

Animals↗

MR diagnosis of bone contusions of the knee: comparison of coronal T2-weighted fast spin-echo with fat saturation and fast spin-echo STIR images with conventional STIR images.

OBJECTIVES: Bone contusions consist of posttraumatic marrow change resulting from a combination of hemorrhage, edema, and microtrabecular injury and are depicted on MR images as geographic, nonlinear areas of abnormally increased T2 marrow signal intensity. Detection of bone contusions is important, not only in that they are frequently a sign of more serious associated injury, but in that isolated contusions may account for clinical symptoms and thereby obviate further workup. We evaluated two promising rapid imaging sequences, T2-weighted fast spin-echo with fat saturation and fast spin-echo short inversion time (T1) inversion recovery (STIR) and compared their efficacy to that of conventional STIR for the diagnosis of bone contusions in knees. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one consecutive military, retired military, and military-dependent patients were prospectively entered. Imaging consisted of three experimental sequences: coronal T2-weighted fast spin-echo with spectroscopic fat saturation, fast spin-echo STIR, and STIR, as well as conventional T1, proton density, and T2. Each examination was interpreted by three radiologists, for a total of 153 interpretations. Each interpretation consisted of the conventional sequences plus one of the three experimental sequences, blinded to the other two, specifically addressing menisci, ligaments, bones, and soft tissues. A positive test result was defined as a diagnosis of bone contusion on any one of the three independent interpretations of a given examination. Our gold standard was the consensus opinion of all three radiologists in a retrospective, unblinded evaluation of all imaging sequences. Sensitivity and specificity of fast spin-echo with fat saturation and fast spin-echo STIR were then calculated and compared with STIR. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity for bone contusion diagnosis in the three experimental sequences were as follows: fast spin-echo with fat saturation, 91% sensitivity and 86% specificity; fast spin-echo STIR, 96% sensitivity and 96% specificity; and conventional STIR, 83% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Our results showed no statistically significant difference between either of the fast spin-echo sequences and conventional STIR (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Because of their comparable accuracy and short imaging time characteristics, coronal fast spin-echo with fat saturation and fast spin-echo STIR sequences are superior to conventional STIR sequences for the diagnosis of bone contusions in knees.

Adolescent↗

[Magnetic resonance in the identification and assessment of extent and severity of bone contusion damage: comparison of several types of imaging (SE/T1, GE/T2 and SE/T1) with fat suppression].

INTRODUCTION: Bone marrow contusion is a common cause of chronic joint pain in the post-traumatic knee; it is usually associated with meniscal and/or ligament damage but it may also be the only abnormal sign. In this condition MRI plays a fundamental role because it is the only imaging technique which can diagnose it and accurately assess its extent and any cortical bone and/or cartilage involvement. We investigated the diagnostic potentials of 3 MR sequences in identifying and assessing the extent of bone contusion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: January, 1994, to December, 1997, we performed 539 MR examinations of the knee on 478 patients with chronic joint pain following trauma. We used T1-weighted SE, T2*-weighted GE and T1-weighted SE sequences with fat saturation (fs), paying great attention to technical parameter setting. The images were retrospectively reviewed by groups of radiologists using 2 semi-objective evaluation systems: a qualitative assessment to grade the ease of detection of the contusion with each sequence and a quantitative assessment of contusion extent and of osteochondral involvement, if any, again for each sequence. RESULTS: The qualitative analysis showed that GE and SE-fs sequences were superior to the conventional ones in identifying bone contusion foci; GE sequences tended to overestimate the number of poorly depictable lesions relative to SE-fs ones. The quantitative analysis showed that the conventional sequences tend to underestimate the foci extent, while GE and SE-fs sequences performed nearly the same in the assessment of high-grade lesions. The number of low-midgrade lesions was overestimated by GE sequences relative to SE-fs ones. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: GE and SE-fs sequences permit accurate studies of bone contusions. Diagnostic efficacy is increased by enhancing the signal from non-fatty structures within a tissue rich in fat: the quantitative reduction of the non-fatty structural component and/or its replacement with abnormal components is thus best shown. Fat-suppression sequences were more accurate in defining lesion size, which is also related to low susceptibility to the artifacts from extrinsic and especially intrinsic structural inhomogeneities. In contrast, GE sequences demonstrated high susceptibility, which caused poorer definition of the contusion borders and, consequently, overestimation of the lesion size.

Adipose Tissue↗

Evaluation of bone contusions with fat-saturated fast spin-echo proton-density magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of fast spin-echo proton-density magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with fat saturation sequences in the evaluation of bone contusions at the knee. METHODS: Analysis of 46 consecutive knee MRI examinations performed on patients referred from a sports medicine clinic after knee trauma. All examinations included coronal fast spin-echo proton-density fat saturation, fast spin-echo proton-density and fast spin-echo T2-weighted sequences. All 3 coronal sequences were blindly reviewed independently of each other by 3 experienced musculoskeletal radiologists to identify and grade bone contusions. RESULTS: Thirty-five bone contusions were identified in 24 patients. All bone contusions were identified on fast spin-echo proton-density fat saturation sequences, which was significantly greater than the percentage identified on either fast spin-echo T2-weighted sequences (21/35, 60%, p < 0.001) or fast spin-echo proton-density sequences (10/35, 29%, p < 0.001). Fourteen (40%) of the contusions were identified only on the fast spin-echo proton-density fat saturation sequences. The average grade of contusion for all 35 examinations was also significantly higher on the fast spin-echo proton-density fat saturation sequences than on the fast spin-echo proton-density and fast spin-echo T2-weighted sequences (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Fast spin-echo proton-density fat saturation sequences are more sensitive in the detection of bone contusions than fast spin-echo proton-density and fast spin-echo T2-weighted sequences. Assessment of other structures in the knee with fast spin-echo proton-density fat saturation MRI provides good spatial resolution and adequate T2-weighted information. It may have advantages over the more heavily T2-weighted fast spin-echo T2 fat saturation and inversion recovery sequences.

Adult↗

[Oxidative damage and photoreceptor cell apoptosis in contusion injury of the rabbit retina].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of retina injury and photoreceptor apoptosis after contusion as well as their triggering factor. METHODS: The rabbit retina was injured by a 3 J energy contusion caused by a free falling iron bar hitting the cornea. The morphologic changes of the retina were observed by light and electron microscopes. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique was used to assess apoptosis. The amount of the malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the retina were assayed and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Apoptosis of photoreceptors was present in retina contusion caused by a 3 J energy injury. After contusion, the MDA level increased gradually. The activity of SOD increased reflectively at first, then decreased markedly 3 days after the contusion, which was parallel with the appearance of apoptotic photoreceptors. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis is an important mechanism of retina contusion. Free oxygen radicals are the important triggering factors for the apoptosis of photoreceptors in the retina contusion of the rabbits.

Animals↗