Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome

Iliotibial band friction syndrome, also known simply as iliotibial band syndrome, is thought to occur through friction between the iliotibial band (ITB) and the lateral femoral condyle during early stages of knee flexion.

The ITB may or may not be thickened in iliotibial band syndrome. Early on in the disease process, there may be fluid signal deep to the iliotibial band that may be difficult or impossible to differentiate from joint fluid that has extended posterolaterally. As the disease progresses, there is fluid surrounding the ITB, making the diagnosis easier.

T2 hyperintensity deep to the ITB is located within a space bounded superiorly by the vastus lateralis muscle, posteriorly by the biceps femoris muscle, laterally by the ITB, distally and medially by the meniscocapsular junction of the lateral meniscus, the lateral collateral ligament, and the lateral femoral epicondyle.

References

Muhle C, Ahn JM, Yeh L, Bergman GA, Boutin RD, Schweitzer M, Jacobson JA, Haghighi P, Trudell DJ, Resnick D. Iliotibial band friction syndrome: MR imaging findings in 16 patients and MR arthrographic study of six cadaveric knees. Radiology. 1999 Jul;212(1):103-10.