Synovial plicae (knee)
Last revised by Sonam Vadera on 3 Dec 2021
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Vadera S, Weerakkody Y, et al. Synovial plicae (knee). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 11 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-9174
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rID:
9174
Article created:
22 Mar 2010, Frank Gaillard ◈
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosuresLast revised:
3 Dec 2021, Sonam Vadera ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Sonam Vadera had no recorded disclosures.
View Sonam Vadera's current disclosuresRevisions:
19 times, by 12 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Plicae of the knee
- Plica of the knee
- Synovial plica of the knee
Synovial plicae are folds of synovium, thought to represent embryologic remnants. They are common, present in ~90% of arthroscopies 3.
They have been implicated in anterior knee pain and possibly in chondromalacia patellae although their role remains controversial 1,3.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
Some plicae have been described with multiple names in the literature representing the same structure 1,2:
- medial patellar plica: most common symptomatic plica
- suprapatellar plica / superior patellar plica
- infrapatellar plica / ligamentum mucosum: most common knee plica
- lateral patellar plica: rare (<1%)
They range in shape from a ridge or shelf to more discrete cord-like structure 3.
Radiographic features
CT arthrography
May be seen as a shelf like band.
MRI
- PD/T2: typically seen as a band-like low signal structure traversing through the joint space (arthrography study or when joint effusion is present)
Related pathology
References
- 1. Hodge JC, Ghelman B, O'Brien SJ et-al. Synovial plicae and chondromalacia patellae: correlation of results of CT arthrography with results of arthroscopy. Radiology. 1993;186 (3): 827-31. Radiology (abstract) [pubmed citation]
- 2. García-valtuille R, Abascal F, Cerezal L et-al. Anatomy and MR imaging appearances of synovial plicae of the knee. Radiographics. 22 (4): 775-84. Radiographics (full text) - Pubmed citation
- 3. Boles CA, Martin DF. Synovial plicae in the knee. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2001;177 (1): 221-7. doi:10.2214/ajr.177.1.1770221 - Pubmed citation
- 4. Dupont JY. Synovial plicae of the knee. Controversies and review. Clin Sports Med. 1997;16 (1): 87-122. Pubmed citation
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