Subchondral insufficiency fracture of the knee
Updates to Article Attributes
Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee, also known as Ahlback disease, SONK or even SPONK, has similar appearances to osteochondritis dissecans of the knee but is found in an older age group.
Epidemiology
SONK is seen more frequently in women (M:F 1:3) and affects older patients, typically over the age of 55.
Pathology
Osteonecrosis in SONK has no predisposing factors. However, by definition,secondary secondary osteonecrosis of the knee occurs occurs secondary to an insult. SONK is not thought to be caused by bone death but may be caused by osteoporosis and insufficiency fractures 6. Some authors suggest that the primary event leading to spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee is a subchondral insufficiency fracture.
Radiographic features
It is almost always unilateral, usually affects the medial femoral condyle (but can occasionally involve the tibial plateau 9) and is often associated with a meniscal tear.
Plain radiograph
In the later stages features seen include:
- flattening of the medial femoral condyle
- subchondral radiolucent focus
- complicating subchondral fracture with periosteal reaction
MRI
Features can vary dependant on the stage:
- ill-defined bone marrow oedema and a lack of peripheral low signal intensity rim as seen in osteonecrosis and bone infarcts
- focal subchondral area of low signal intensity adjacent to the subchondral bone plate representing local ischaemia (considered as a specific MRI finding 12); this area shows no enhancement on post-contrast
- deformity of the subchondral bone plate (flattening or focal depression) in the weight-bearing area of the involved condyle
Treatment and prognosis
Prognosis varies from complete recovery to total joint collapse 2. Treatment can either be operative or nonoperative.
Differential diagnosis
Possible considerations include
History and etymology
It was first systematically described by Ahlback in 1968 2
-<p><strong>Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee</strong>, also known as <strong>Ahlback disease</strong>, <strong>SONK</strong> or even <strong>SPONK</strong>, has similar appearances to <a href="/articles/osteochondritis-dissecans-of-the-knee">osteochondritis dissecans of the knee</a> but is found in an older age group.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>SONK is seen more frequently in women (M:F 1:3) and affects older patients, typically over the age of 55.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p><a href="/articles/osteonecrosis">Osteonecrosis</a> in SONK has no predisposing factors. However, by definition, <a href="/articles/secondary-osteonecrosis-of-the-knee">secondary osteonecrosis of the knee</a> occurs secondary to an insult. SONK is not thought to be caused by bone death but may be caused by osteoporosis and insufficiency fractures <sup>6</sup>. Some authors suggest that the primary event leading to spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee is a subchondral insufficiency fracture.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>It is almost always unilateral, usually affects the medial femoral condyle (but can occasionally involve the tibial plateau <sup>9</sup>) and is often associated with a <a href="/articles/meniscal-tear">meniscal tear</a>. </p><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>In the later stages features seen include:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee</strong>, also known as <strong>Ahlback disease</strong>, <strong>SONK</strong> or even <strong>SPONK</strong>, has similar appearances to <a href="/articles/osteochondritis-dissecans-of-the-knee">osteochondritis dissecans of the knee</a> but is found in an older age group.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>SONK is seen more frequently in women (M:F 1:3) and affects older patients, typically over the age of 55.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p><a href="/articles/osteonecrosis">Osteonecrosis</a> in SONK has no predisposing factors. However, by definition, secondary osteonecrosis of the knee occurs secondary to an insult. SONK is not thought to be caused by bone death but may be caused by osteoporosis and insufficiency fractures <sup>6</sup>. Some authors suggest that the primary event leading to spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee is a subchondral insufficiency fracture.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>It is almost always unilateral, usually affects the medial femoral condyle (but can occasionally involve the tibial plateau <sup>9</sup>) and is often associated with a <a href="/articles/meniscal-tear">meniscal tear</a>. </p><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>In the later stages features seen include:</p><ul>
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