Note the effusion, secondary to an ACL rupture, separating the periarticular fat pads and displacing the quadriceps tendon and patella anteriorly.
Scroll to see lipohemarthrosis
Note the effusion, secondary to an intra-articular fracture leaking marrow fat into the joint space, separating the periarticular fat pads and displacing the quadriceps tendon and patella anteriorly whilst forming a fat-fluid level.
Case Discussion
It is useful to understand the impact a joint effusion has on the anatomy of the knee.
Visualizing the joint effusion like this aids in the interpretation of knee radiographs and will help differentiate a suprapatellar fat pad from lipohemarthrosis or simply better demonstrate the significant displacement of the fat pads one can observe when they are almost absent due to effusion.
It is important the knee radiographs are performed horizontal beam to demonstrate and fat-fluid levels in the knee.
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