Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease
Updates to Article Attributes
Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease (SLJ), aka Sinding-Larsen´s disease or Larsen-Johannson syndrome, affects the proximal end of the patellar tendon as it inserts into the inferior pole of the patella, and represents a chronic traction injury of the immature osteotendinous junction. It is a closely related condition to Osgood-Schlatter disease. Some authors class SLJ as jumper's knee in the paediatric setting 2.
Demographics and clinical presentationEpidemiology
Unlike jumper's knee which is seen at any age, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease is seen in active adolescents typically between 10-14 years of age 1.Children with cerebral palsy are particularly prone to SLJ 4.
Clinical presentation
Presentation is with point tenderness at the inferior pole of the patella associated with focal swelling.
Children with cerebral palsy are particularly prone to SLJ 4.
Radiographic features
Plain film
Early findings are subtle or absent. Thickening of the proximal patellar tendon may be seen with stranding of the adjacent portions of Hoffa's fat pad potentially seen. Dystrophic calcification / ossification may eventually be present.
Ultrasound
Thickening and heterogeneity of the proximal patellar tendon, especially involving the posterior fibres (which attach to the patella rather than blending with the quadriceps tendon and pass over the surface of the patella). Focal regions of hypoechogenicity may be seen representing small tears.
MRI
MRI is crucial in assessment of extensor mechanism injuries. In SLJ the proximal and posterior part of the patellar tendon is thickened with high T2/STIR signal, often extending into the adjacent fat and inferior pole of the patella.
Treatment and prognosis
With rest and quadriceps flexibility exercises the condition settles with no secondary disability.
EtymologyHistory and etymology
The entity was described by the Norwegian physician Christian Magnus Falsen Sinding-Larsen (1866-1930) in 1921 5. The Swedish physician Sven Christian Johansson (1880-1959) described the same entity independently in 1922 6.
Differential diagnosis
- Osgood Schlatter disease - inferior attachement of the patellar tendon into the tibial tuberosity
- jumper's knee - same location and similar pathology, but seen in adults. Some authors do not distinguish between the two 2.
- patellar sleeve fractures- same age group; avulsion of inferior pole cartilage often with small fracture fragement 2.
- bipartite patella / normal inferior pole 'fragmentation' 3
- infrapatellar bursitis 4
-<p><strong>Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease</strong> <strong>(SLJ)</strong>, aka <strong>Sinding-Larsen´s disease </strong>or <strong>Larsen-Johannson syndrome</strong>, affects the proximal end of the patellar tendon as it inserts into the inferior pole of the <a href="/articles/patella">patella</a>, and represents a chronic traction injury of the immature osteotendinous junction. It is a closely related condition to <a href="/articles/osgood-schlatter_disease">Osgood-Schlatter disease</a>. Some authors class SLJ as <a href="/articles/jumper-s-knee">jumper's knee</a> in the paediatric setting <sup>2</sup>.</p><h4>Demographics and clinical presentation</h4><p>Unlike jumper's knee which is seen at any age, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease is seen in active adolescents typically between 10-14 years of age <sup>1</sup>. Presentation is with point tenderness at the inferior pole of the patella associated with focal swelling.</p><p>Children with cerebral palsy are particularly prone to SLJ <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain film</h5><p>Early findings are subtle or absent. Thickening of the proximal patellar tendon may be seen with stranding of the adjacent portions of <a href="/articles/hoffas-fat-pad">Hoffa's fat pad</a> potentially seen. Dystrophic calcification / ossification may eventually be present.</p><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>Thickening and heterogeneity of the proximal patellar tendon, especially involving the posterior fibres (which attach to the patella rather than blending with the <a href="/articles/quadriceps_tendon">quadriceps tendon</a> and pass over the surface of the patella). Focal regions of hypoechogenicity may be seen representing small tears.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI is crucial in assessment of extensor mechanism injuries. In SLJ the proximal and posterior part of the patellar tendon is thickened with high T2/STIR signal, often extending into the adjacent fat and inferior pole of the patella.</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>With rest and quadriceps flexibility exercises the condition settles with no secondary disability.</p><h4>Etymology</h4><p>The entity was described by the Norwegian physician <strong>Christian Magnus Falsen Sinding-Larsen </strong>(1866-1930) in 1921 <sup>5</sup>. The Swedish physician <strong>Sven Christian Johansson</strong> (1880-1959) described the same entity independently in 1922 <sup>6</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>- +<p><strong>Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease</strong> <strong>(SLJ)</strong>, aka <strong>Sinding-Larsen´s disease </strong>or <strong>Larsen-Johannson syndrome</strong>, affects the proximal end of the patellar tendon as it inserts into the inferior pole of the <a href="/articles/patella">patella</a>, and represents a chronic traction injury of the immature osteotendinous junction. It is a closely related condition to <a href="/articles/osgood-schlatter-disease">Osgood-Schlatter disease</a>. Some authors class SLJ as <a href="/articles/jumper-s-knee">jumper's knee</a> in the paediatric setting <sup>2</sup>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Unlike jumper's knee which is seen at any age, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease is seen in active adolescents typically between 10-14 years of age <sup>1</sup>. <span style="line-height:1.6em">Children with cerebral palsy are particularly prone to SLJ </span><sup style="line-height:1.6em">4</sup><span style="line-height:1.6em">.</span></p><h4><span style="line-height:1.6em">Clinical presentation</span></h4><p>Presentation is with point tenderness at the inferior pole of the patella associated with focal swelling.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain film</h5><p>Early findings are subtle or absent. Thickening of the proximal patellar tendon may be seen with stranding of the adjacent portions of <a href="/articles/hoffas-fat-pad">Hoffa's fat pad</a> potentially seen. Dystrophic calcification / ossification may eventually be present.</p><h5>Ultrasound</h5><p>Thickening and heterogeneity of the proximal patellar tendon, especially involving the posterior fibres (which attach to the patella rather than blending with the <a href="/articles/quadriceps-tendon">quadriceps tendon</a> and pass over the surface of the patella). Focal regions of hypoechogenicity may be seen representing small tears.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI is crucial in assessment of extensor mechanism injuries. In SLJ the proximal and posterior part of the patellar tendon is thickened with high T2/STIR signal, often extending into the adjacent fat and inferior pole of the patella.</p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>With rest and quadriceps flexibility exercises the condition settles with no secondary disability.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>The entity was described by the Norwegian physician <strong>Christian Magnus Falsen Sinding-Larsen </strong>(1866-1930) in 1921 <sup>5</sup>. The Swedish physician <strong>Sven Christian Johansson</strong> (1880-1959) described the same entity independently in 1922 <sup>6</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>
-<a href="/articles/osgood-schlatter_disease">Osgood Schlatter disease </a>- inferior attachement of the patellar tendon into the tibial tuberosity</li>- +<a href="/articles/osgood-schlatter-disease">Osgood Schlatter disease </a>- inferior attachement of the patellar tendon into the tibial tuberosity</li>
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