Association Between Ultrashort Echo-Time T2* Parameters and Clinical Outcome in an RCT of Patellar Tendinopathy

This study was performed to investigate the association between bi-component UTE-T2* parameter of the patellar tendon and clinical pain scores over time in a randomized control trial for patellar tendinopathy (PT). The fraction of the fast-relaxing macromolecular bound water (FF) of the proximal patellar tendon and VAS pain scores were assessed at 0, 16 and 52-weeks in 29 patients with PT randomized into three treatment groups. All treatment groups showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in pain and a significant increase (p<0.05) in FF over time, with a significant inverse correlation (p<0.05) between the increase in FF and decreased pain.