title: Follow-up of posttraumatic ligamentous and meniscal knee lesions detected at MR imaging: systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a systematic review of the literature regarding the natural course of ligamentous and meniscal knee lesions detected at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MEDLINE database was searched from January 1966 to February 2003. Studies were included if all of the following criteria were met: patients had collateral ligament, cruciate ligament, or meniscal lesions; MR imaging was performed in all patients; study included a group and/or subgroup of patients who underwent conservative treatment during follow-up; patients returned to the clinic for follow-up and clinical data or MR imaging outcomes were noted; and article was written in English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Danish, or Norwegian. The quality of each study was assessed by using a standardized criteria set, and kappa statistics were used to grade the level of agreement between the two reviewers. Studies with quality scores of 8 or more were designated as high quality. Results were compared with regard to study design and quality scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature search identified 649 articles, and 11 studies (five on posterior cruciate ligament [PCL] injuries, five on anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] injuries, and one on meniscal injuries) met the inclusion criteria. No studies on the follow-up of collateral ligament injuries were identified. Four studies were of high quality, and the kappa value for quality items was 0.80. Between 77% and 93% of the partial or complete PCL ruptures regained continuity. In cases of partial or total ACL rupture, repair of continuity was also possible. A possible association between MR imaging continuity and clinical stability was identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ACL and PCL can regain continuity after partial or complete rupture. On the basis of this review, no conclusions can be drawn about the natural course of meniscal or collateral ligament injury seen at MR imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Rijnmond-Zuid Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. s.boks@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Simone S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Boks
authors.forename: Dammis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vroegindeweij
authors.forename: Bart W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Koes
authors.forename: M G Myriam
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hunink
authors.forename: Sita M A
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bierma-Zeinstra
mesh_terms: D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011379:Prognosis; D012421:Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D014945:Wound Healing