Imaging Findings of Knee Trauma on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

ABSTRACT

Background: Knee is one of the major joints involved in kinesis. With increasing involvement in sports related activities especially in young people, Trauma related knee pathologies have increased. An accurate diagnosis regarding the type and extent of injuries is essential for early operative as well as non-operative treatment. Methods:This prospective study included total of 82 cases. The patients were referred to the department of Radiodiagnosis from indoor and outdoor departments of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar with suspicion of internal derangement of the knee and with history of knee trauma.Results:The most common age group involved was young males between 15-34 years. In all age groups most of the patients were males. Most common ligament to be injured was Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). Partial tears were more common than complete tears. Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) tears were less common. Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) tears outnumbered Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) tears and grade 2 tears were more common in both. Among the meniscal injuries Medial Meniscus (MM) tears were more common than LM and grade 3 signal was more common in both. Most of the patellar retinaculum injuries were associated with Anterior Cruciate Ligament ACL tears.Conclusions:Post-traumatic pre-arthroscopic MR imaging evaluation has proved to be cost-effective. MRI is an accurate imaging modality complementing the clinical evaluation and providing a global intra-articular and extra-articular assessment of the knee.