title: The diagnosis of meniscal tears in athletes. A comparison of clinical and magnetic resonance imaging investigations.
abstract: This study evaluated the predictability of clinical examination alone in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of meniscal tears in competitive athletes. Ninety-three competitive athletes were prospectively investigated between 1992 and 1995. A total of 57 athletes were operated on based on clinical examination alone, and the 36 remaining athletes had magnetic resonance imaging before surgery. The correct diagnosis of a meniscal lesion was made on clinical examination alone in 83 athletes (89%) and on magnetic resonance imaging the correct diagnosis was also made in 89% of 36 athletes. The overall values for the clinical investigation of the medial and lateral menisci combined were 94.5%, 91.5%, 99%, 96.5%, 87% for accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively. The overall values for magnetic resonance imaging of the medial and lateral menisci combined were 95.5%, 96.5%, 91.5%, 98%, 85.5% for accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Traumatology and Radiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muellner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weinstabl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schabus
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vécsei
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kainberger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries