Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Sriselvakumar S, Behnke N, Jones J, et al. Notch of Harty. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-186632
The notch of Harty or the anteromedial tibial notch is a pseudodefect and an anatomic variant of the ankle joint 1-4.
The notch of Harty is a groove located in the anteromedial region of the tibial plafond. Based on a previous anatomical study, this defect measures 5-10 mm in mediolateral diameter and 5-6 mm anteroposteriorly 1,2. It usually has a depth of 1-2 mm 3.
MRI
MRI often shows a smooth marginated notch filled with trace synovial fluid that may partially contain articular cartilage 3. It can be seen in more than a third of ankle MRIs 3,4.
History and etymology
This was first described by the American orthopedic surgeon Michael Harty in 1988 1,5.
The notch of Harty might be mistaken for a pathologic osteochondral lesion 3.
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1. Ray R, Gusman D, Christensen J. Anatomical Variation of the Tibial Plafond: The Anteromedial Tibial Notch. J Foot Ankle Surg. 1994;33(4):419-26. - Pubmed
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2. Ray R. Anatomical Variation of the Tibial Plafond: The Anteromedial Tibial Notch. J Foot Ankle Surg. 1995;34(6):597. doi:10.1016/s1067-2516(09)80088-4 - Pubmed
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3. Boutin R, Chang J, Bateni C, Giza E, Wisner E, Yao L. The Notch of Harty (Pseudodefect of the Tibial Plafond): Frequency and Characteristic Findings at MRI of the Ankle. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2015;205(2):358-63. doi:10.2214/AJR.14.14012 - Pubmed
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4. Schilling J, Miro P, Chan B. Normal Variants, Imaging Artifacts, and Other Diagnostic Pitfalls in Articular Cartilage Imaging of the Extremities. Journal of Cartilage & Joint Preservation. 2024;4(1):100147. doi:10.1016/j.jcjp.2023.100147
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5. Harty M. Gross anatomy of the ankle joint. In: Guhl JF, ed. Ankle arthroscopy: pathology and surgical technique. Thorofare, NJ: Slack, 1988:7–12.
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