Dynamic ultrasonography of capsulo-ligamentous knee joint traumas.
Ultrasonography was performed on 10 patients with acute posttraumatic conditions of the knee in which X-ray films could exclude the presence of fractures. In 2 of 10 cases, the sonographic picture was normal; in the remaining 8 patients, ultrasonography disclosed capsulo-ligamentous lesions of different degrees of severity that were confirmed by surgery in 5 of 8 cases. The main sonographic signs of articular traumas were abnormal widening of the joint space (7 cases), intra-articular hemorrhage (8 cases), rupture of the medial collateral ligament (4 cases), or irregularity of its structure (3 cases). Ultrasonography is proposed as an effective and simple first-line method for the study of knee joint traumas. It can be performed in all cases presenting with painful joint swelling without radiographical evidence of fractures.
De Flaviis
L
L
Radiological Service, Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento, Milan, Italy.
Nessi
R
R
Leonardi
M
M
Ulivi
M
M
D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries; D012421:Rupture; D014463:Ultrasonography