T1Rho MRI Evaluation of Patellofemoral Changes After Tibial IM Nailing

Inclusion criteria

• Isolated tibial shaft fractures indicated for intramedullary nailing,
• Acute tibia fractures,
• Closed or open tibia fractures,
• Skeletally mature patient between the ages of 21 and 50,
• No prior history of knee surgery,
• No prior history of knee pain,
• No history of degenerative joint disease or inflammatory arthropathy
• Not pregnant or known to be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections
• Able to provide informed consent.
• Qualifies for standard care tibial IM nailing using either a suprapatellar or infrapatellar approach with no physician preference or definitive clinical indication for one or the other approach
• Ability to communicate, read, and write in English
• Intent of subject to receive follow up fracture care at the PI's institution.

Exclusion criteria

• Tibial fractures requiring articular reconstruction (tibial plateau fractures and pilon fractures),
• Periprosthetic fractures,
• Nonunions or malunions,
• History of previous knee surgery,
• History of preexisting knee pain,
• History of degenerative arthritis or inflammatory arthropathy, any evidence of degenerative changes of pre-operative knee radiographs, and any concomitant injury to that limb.
• Any contraindication to MRI imaging
• Retained stainless steel hardware proximal to the knee joint including, but not limited to prior knee replacement.
• Under age 18 at the time of presentation, pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the study period, or under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections.
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Participation in any other medical device or medicinal product study within the previous month that could influence the results of the present study
• Insurance or other circumstantial restriction that would prohibit or interfere with the subject's ability to receive follow up care at the PI's institution.
• Any condition, acute or chronic, that in the opinion of the attending physician or the Principal Investigator, would contraindicate participation in this study.