Acute injury of the ligaments of the knee: magnetic resonance evaluation.

Abstract

Eleven acutely injured knees and 13 normal knees were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the value of this modality in detecting acute ligamentous injury of the knee. The presence of torn ligaments in the injured knees was determined by arthroscopy and/or arthrotomy in 10 cases and clinical follow-up in 1 case. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL) were demonstrated by sagittal spin echo (SE) images through the intercondylar notch (TE = 30 ms; TR = 2000 ms). The tibial and fibular collateral ligaments (TCL and FCL) were evaluated on coronal SE iamges (TE = 30 ms, TR = 200 or 530 ms; TE = 120 ms, TR = 2000 or 3120 ms). The ACL and PCL were considered torn on MR if they appeared disrupted or were not seen in their normal anatomical positions. The collateral ligaments were considered torn if abnormal high-intensity signal was noted in adajcent soft tissues on TE = 120 ms images or if disruption of a igament was apparent. Eleven of 15 torn ligaments and 80 of 81 normal ligaments were correctly identified by these criteia. MR imaging may be useful in detecting acute injury of ligaments of the knee.