Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Can the PCL hea

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the continiuty of ligament in chronic injury of the pos- terior cruciate ligament(PCL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI#) of twenty-six PCL injury patients with grade II or III laxity and more than 5mm side to side difference on stress radiographs were reviewed in terms of ligamentous continuity and thickness of the ligament at average 7.2 months(range1-36) after injury. RESULTS: Eighteen PCLs(69%) showed continuity of PCL. When thickness of the ligament in cases without continuity was rated as zero, the average thickness of the PCLs as compared to intact portion of the ligament increased as the time from injury elapsed; 16.4% in 0 2 months group(7 cases), 30.0% in 3- 5 months group(6 cases), 53.8% in 6-8 months group(9 cases) and 80.0% in over 9 months group(4 cases). CONCLUSTION More than two thirds of PCLs in symptomatic chronic injury showed ligamentous continuity on MRI. The longer the interval from injury was, the thicker the PCL was.