Atraumatic Knee Marrow Edema-Like Signal Preceding a Low-Energy Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fracture in a Patient with Crohn Disease: A Case Report.
Alaa Jameel A Albarakati
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 44-year-old man with Crohn disease and a history of corticosteroid use presented with atraumatic, load-related right knee pain. Initial imaging showed no acute fracture, but MRI indicated a medial femoral condyle marrow contusion. Symptoms worsened, leading to a bicondylar tibial plateau fracture after a minor twisting incident. The fracture was treated surgically, and the patient achieved full recovery and normal function three months postoperatively.
What made this case unusual
The case highlights the presence of atraumatic bone marrow edema-like signal in a patient with systemic skeletal risk factors, which preceded a significant fracture.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider reassessing patients with atraumatic knee pain and marrow edema-like signals, especially those with risk factors, to prevent overlooked fractures.
Why it matters
This case underscores the importance of thorough imaging evaluation and clinical correlation in patients with underlying conditions that may predispose them to skeletal injuries.