title: Clinical magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic findings in knees: a comparative prospective study of meniscus anterior cruciate ligament and cartilage lesions.
abstract: We compared the diagnostic and predictive value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical findings with arthroscopy in 61 knees in a prospective study. In meniscal tears, the accuracy and positive predictive value of MRI was found to be nearly twice that of clinical examination. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of MRI were comparable to the figures found in other studies. We recommend MRI as a clarifying diagnostic tool when a clinical examination indicates a lesion of the meniscus. In our study, the clinical relevance of MRI in anterior cruciate ligament lesions and especially in cartilage lesions was more doubtful. The combination of clinical and MRI findings would reduce the number of blank arthroscopies to 5%. MRI is a valuable diagnostic tool in planning the type of anesthesia and treatment, and could significantly reduce the need for a second arthroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Aarhus Amtssygehus, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Munk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lundorf
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Staunstrup
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bolvig
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hellfritzsch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries