The collateral ligaments: normal and pathologic appearances on MRI / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the MR findings of normal and abnormal collateral ligament. Methods The MR findings of 56 normal and 36 surgically confirmed injured collateral ligaments were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Results The normal tibial and fibular collateral ligaments were hypointense string on both T 1 and T 2 coronal MR images, with an average length of 6.8 cm for tibial collateral ligament and 5.7 cm for fibular collateral ligament. 36 collateral ligaments were injured, including 18 tibial and 12 fibular collateral ligaments. Three cases (6 ligaments) had both tibial and fibularcollateral ligaments injuries. The injury of collateral ligament was classified as: Grade I (18 ligaments), Grade Ⅱ (11 ligaments), and Grade Ⅲ (7 ligaments). The complications of anterior cruciate ligament sprains (13 cases), posterior cruciate ligament sprains (9 cases), meniscal tears (12 cases), bony contusion and fracture (7 cases), and joint effusion (20 cases) were found in 25 patients(78%). Conclusion Coronal MR imaging can clearly demonstrate the structure of the knee collateral ligaments, accurately diagnose and classify the ligament injury, and correctly detect the complications. MRI should be used as a routine examining method for knee trauma.