Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of knee joint abnormalities in Saudi patients: Correlations with age and gender

Knee abnormalities frequently cause discomfort and limited mobility. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) serves as a powerful tool for diagnosing knee joint abnormalities. To assess the knee abnormalities in Saudi patients with knee pain using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A retrospective study conducted in King Salman Medical City, Al Medinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia, in the period from January to May 2023. Data were collected from the hospital database (PACS) from 2020 to May 2023 and analyzed using SPSS (version 25). Descriptive statistics were performed, and the chi-squared test was used to assess the relationship between the prevalence of knee joint pathology and age and gender. The study demonstrated that Knee joint abnormalities were more common in males than in females (Male: 62.8 %; Female: 37.2 %). The most prevalent pathologies were ligament tears (69.8 %), cartilage abnormalities (60.73 %), synovitis (54.97 %), patellar pathology (27.63 %), osteoarthritis (OA) (25.57 %), and knee cysts (23.07 %). Significant correlations were found between the prevalence of patellar pathology, ligament abnormalities, and joint effusion with gender and age (P < 0.05). The study concluded that the knee joint abnormalities were more common in male than females, patellar pathology and OA were more predominant in females while ligament, tendon and cartilage abnormalities were more common in males.