[The compare disquisition of the collateral ligaments: normal and pathologic appearances on MRI].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the MR findings of normal and abnormal collateral ligament and the meaning of medical jurisprudence appraisal.


METHODS
The MR findings of 12 normal and 13 surgically confirmed injured collateral ligaments were retrospectively reviewed and compared.


RESULTS
The normal tibial and fibular collateral ligaments were hypointense string on both T1 and T2 coronal MR images, with average length of 6.8 cm for tibial collateral ligament and 5.7 cm for fibular collateral ligament.13 collateral ligaments were injured, including 6 tibial and 3 fibular collateral ligaments. Two cases(4 ligaments) had both tibial and fibularcollateral ligaments injuries. The injury of collateral ligament was classified as: Grade I(5 ligaments), Grade II(5 ligaments), and Grade III(3 ligaments). The complications of anterior cruciate ligament sprains(3 cases), posterior cruciate ligament sprains(4 cases), meniscal tear(2 cases) were found in 7 patients(63.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Coronal MR imaging can clearly demonstrate the structure of the knee collateral ligaments, accurately diagnose and classify the ligament injury, and correctly detect the complications, MRI is very valuable for medical jurisprudence appraisal.
D000328:Adult; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007719:Knee Joint; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017888:Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies