Ultrasonographic examination of the normal and injured posterior cruciate ligament.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to determine the echogenicity and thickness of both the normal and injured posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).


METHODS
Eight patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury received ultrasonographic evaluation during arthroscopic examination. With the aid of the comet-tail artifact produced by the metal hook during arthroscopic examination, the normal PCL was located on sonograms. Thereafter, 11 patients with PCL injury were examined. In all subjects, the PCL thickness was measured at 2.0 cm proximal from posterior end of the distal PCL inserting onto the tibia.


RESULTS
The normal PCL was located just posterior to the posterior tibial intercondylar area. It was hypo-echoic and was thickened proximally and tapered distally. The mean thickness of the injured PCL was 0.71 +/- 0.12 cm, which was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than that of the normal ligament (0.52 +/- 0.08 cm). Different appearances could be observed, including ligamental rupture and avulsion fracture of the tibial insertion of the PCL.


CONCLUSIONS
The normal PCL appears on longitudinal sonograms as a hypoechoic fan-shape structure. Sonographic examination can identify different types of PCL lesions.
Hsu
Chih-Chin
CC
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fushin St., Gueishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
Tsai
Wen-Chung
WC
Chen
Carl Pai-Chu
CP
Yeh
Wen-Lin
WL
Tang
Simon Fuk-Tan
SF
Kuo
Jun-Kung
JK
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000379:methods; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D016477:Artifacts; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012421:Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography