title: Two Helpful MRI Signs for Evaluation of Posterolateral Bundle Tears of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diagnosis of partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears is difficult on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly the isolated tears of the posterolateral bundle.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe 2 MRI signs of partial ACL tear involving the posterolateral bundle on conventional knee MRI sequences, specifically, the "gap" and "footprint" signs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the MRI appearance of the ACL in 11 patients with arthroscopically proven partial ACL tears isolated to the posterolateral bundle, as well as in 10 patients with arthroscopically proven intact ACLs, and evaluated for the presence of gap and/or footprint signs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was high degree of sensitivity and specificity associated with the MRI findings of "gap" and "footprint" signs with arthroscopically proven isolated posterolateral bundle tears.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gap and footprint signs are suggestive of posterolateral bundle tear of the ACL, and the presence of 1 or both of these imaging findings should alert the radiologist to the possibility of a posterolateral bundle tear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, USA.
authors.forename: Yulia V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Volokhina
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, USA.
authors.forename: Hasan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, USA.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California, USA.
authors.forename: Allie K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Blackburn
keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; posterolateral bundle; tear