Role of sonographic examination in traumatic knee internal derangement.
OBJECTIVE
To define the accuracy (compared with magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) of sonographic examination in detecting knee effusion and to determine whether the presence of knee effusions in patients with traumatic knee injury can predict knee internal derangement as assessed by MRI.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Hospital rehabilitation department.


METHODS
Thirty patients (19 men, 11 women) with traumatic knee injury were recruited. Subjects received sonographic examination and MRI on the same day.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
The presence or absence of knee effusion was assessed by sonographic examination. MRI was used as criterion standard to evaluate whether the presence of knee effusion and internal derangement, which included tear of anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, as well as meniscus tear.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of sonographic examination for detecting knee effusion was 79.1%, and specificity was 50%. The positive-predictive value (PPV) was 86.3% and negative-predictive value (NPV) was 37.5%. The PPV of sonographic effusion to internal derangement was 90.9%, and the NPV was 37.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonographic examination can accurately detect effusion of the knee. The detection of knee effusion in patients with traumatic knee injury by sonographic examination is highly indicative of internal knee derangement.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chung-Yuan
CY
Wang
Hsing-Kuo
HK
Wang
Chao-Yu
CY
Hsu
Jeng-Yi
JY
Shieh
Tyng-Guey
TG
Wang
Ching-Chuan
CC
Jiang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler