Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopy in diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament[ACL] lesions

ABSTRACT

Forty five patients with enigmatic knee symptoms were selected for evaluation by both magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and arthroscopy. Arthroscopy was performed in a standard examination room using a tourniquet under general anesthesia. All MRI scans were performed using 1.5-T superconductive magnet. A specifically designed protocol for imaging, producing T1 and T2 sagittal images and T1 coronal images interleaved at four millimeters, while the patient's foot was in 20 degrees of external rotation. Magnetic resonance imaging, yielded excellent visualization of the anterior cruciate ligament. During arthroscopy, one can usually treat abnormalities that are found, but as a diagnostic technique, arthgroscopy has the risks of an operative procedure. Compared to arthroscopy, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging were respectively 100, 90, and 99.8%. The findings on magnetic resonance images were compared before to those of diagnostic arthroscopy. In series ranging in size from 28 to 86 knees [1, 2, 3, 4], the accuracy of imaging of the cruciate ligaments ranged from 90 to 100%. The MRI sequence can be performed in 30 min. It is totally noninvasive and requires no exposure to ionizing radiation. Magnetic resonance imaging can be a safe and valuable adjunct to the clinical evaluation of the knee and aid to efficient preoperative planning