title: The efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging in acute multi-ligament injuries.
abstract: This study compares MRI with examination under anaesthesia to surgical findings in evaluating soft tissue injuries in acute multi-ligament knee trauma. Pre-operative MRI was done for 44 patients who underwent surgery for grade III ACL and grade III medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. In 21 cases both ACL and MCL were treated surgically, but in 23 only ACL. Intra-operative and MRI findings were compared. Accuracy of MRI for medial meniscal tears was 88.6%, sensitivity 80%, and specificity 91.2%; accuracy for lateral meniscal tears was 72.7%, sensitivity 55% and specificity 87.5%. Accuracy and sensitivity for severity of ACL tear was 93.2% and of MCL tear 86.4%. In 88.6% of the knees, bone bruises were visible, with anterolateral femoral and posterolateral tibial bone bruise being the most common. MRI revealed no chondral lesion, but arthroscopy revealed 11. In combined ACL-MCL ruptures, the incidence of concomitant injuries is high and the injuries are best detected with MRI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Jorvi Hospital, Turuntie 150, Espoo, Finland. jyrki.halinen@saunalahti.fi
authors.forename: Jyrki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halinen
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koivikko
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindahl
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hirvensalo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017888:Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012421:Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult