Assessment of Internal Knee Injuries Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background: The knee joint is an intricate structure, sensitive to injury, due to its muscles and ligaments, and thecapability to tolerate quite significant loads. In sport physiotherapy practice, for proper management of clinicalknee joint injuries, accurate diagnosis is essential. MRI has become established as the gold standard of non-invasive assessment of scope and detail of soft tissue structures.Objectives: To assess the frequency, nature, and parameters of internal knee injuries via the use of MRI in patientswith internal derangement.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted with 90 patients (69 men, 21 women) ages 14 - 72years from Narayan Medical College and Hospital, Bihar, India. Patients underwent MRI with a 1.5 Tesla scannerwith standard MRI protocols. The studies were reviewed with regard to frequency, nature, site, and grade ofligamentary and meniscal injuries.Results: The most common injury pattern was ACL injury (63.30%). MM tear (56.70%) and LM tear (36.70%)were also common. For ACL injury - most were complete (47.40%) and mid-substance (43.90%). The nature ofPCL injuries (15.60%) noted identification of some tibial avulsions. MM horizontal grade II injuries were themost frequent (56.90%); LM horizontal grade II (63.60%) was the next most common injuries identified. MCLand LCL injuries were less common and were generally grade I.Conclusion: MRI is a very sensitive and specific modality to assess internal knee injuries and gives a detaileddescription of ligament and meniscal pathology. Because MRI can also characterize the extent and features ofthese types of injuries, it increases diagnostic confidence and helps to guide clinical and surgical treatmentdecisions.