Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in comparison with Arthroscopic findings for lateral and medial meniscal tears

This study was conducted to analyze the reliability of clinical diagnosis in meniscal tear injuries. From one hundred and three patients with knee problems, arthroscopically in 40 were diagnosed LM (lateral meniscus) tears and in 45 patients MM (medial meniscus) tears. MRI of the knee joint was done before the admission and some of them before the clinical examination. In this study meniscal tears were clinically diagnosed by positive McMurray and Apley test. At all these patients the clinical diagnosis was confirmed during underwent therapeutic arthroscopic knee surgery. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on MRI and arthroscopic findings. The accuracy of clinical diagnosis in our study was 70% for LM tears and 63.1% for MM tears. Our study revealed high sensitivity and specificity and good accuracy for meniscal injuries of knee joint in comparison to arthroscopy. MRI is an appropriate screening tool for therapeutic arthroscopy, making diagnostic arthroscopy unnecessary in most patients. Magnetic resonance imaging is accurate and non-invasive modality for the assessment of meniscal injuries. It can be used as a first line investigation in patients with soft tissue trauma to knee.