Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Evaluation of Painful Knee Joint

Since its advent, MRI has advanced musculoskeletal imaging. Today, it one of the best modality for assessing the internal structures of the knee, like menisci, cruciate ligaments, and articular cartilage, because of its unparalleled accuracy and non-invasive nature. Purpose: Our aim is to understand the role of MRI in various traumatic and non-traumatic lesions that cause knee discomfort or pain. Materials and methods: Setting: At a tertiary level hospital, patients with painful knee joints who were referred from other hospitals, orthopaedic clinics to the Department of Radiology at SLIMS, Pondicherry. Patients: 70 participants with knee joint discomfort were selected for the study. Investigations: After examining clinically, MRI was performed. Patients who were recommended arthroscopy were followed and observations were corelated. Main Outcome Measures: A variety of MRI findings in various etiologies were studied. MRI was compared with arthroscopy/surgical findings in selected cases. Results: MRI revealed meniscal tears primarily affecting the medial meniscus and the posterior horn. These tears were predominantly reported as grade 3. Among ligament tears, the ACL was most frequently involved. Rest of the chronic causes were minimal. Conclusion: MRI stands out as a precise and non-invasive technology for exploring the soft tissues and osseous structures of the knee. Its high diagnostic accuracy makes it invaluable for identifying and classifying meniscal tears, thus potentially reducing the need for unnecessary arthroscopic procedures. MRI is particularly effective in detecting complete ACL tears and meniscal tears that might be challenging to identify through arthroscopy. Additionally, it provides comprehensive insights into various knee pathologies, aiding in the development of targeted and effective treatment plans. This analysis reinforces the role of MRI as a crucial technique for assessment and management of both traumatic as well as non-traumatic knee conditions.