Comparative study of MRI and arthroscopy in diagnosing meniscal and cruciate ligament tears

Abstract

Background: MRI is done extensively to assess knee injuries as clinical examination is difficult in painful knees. It is the need of the hour to know the accuracy and limitations of MRI in diagnosing meniscus and cruciate ligaments tears by comparing with arthroscopy, which is the gold standard in assessing the joints. Materials and methods: Prospective study of one hundred patients with clinically suspected internal injuries of knee, who underwent MRI knee and arthroscopy were assessed and compared for a period of two years from 2017 to 2019 in our hospital. Results: The accuracy of MRI in diagnosing medial meniscal injury is 89%, lateral meniscus is 95%. Accuracy of anterior cruciate ligament complete tear (97%) is higher than for partial tear (90%). Similar findings for posterior cruciate ligament as well, 100% in complete tear and 96% for partial tears. We had more number of false positives in diagnosing medial and lateral meniscal tears and partial tear of anterior cruciate ligament.Conclusion: MRI will be most accurate noninvasive modality in diagnosing meniscal and cruciate ligament tears, if the reporting radiologist is aware of the pitfalls of MRI in assessing these structures. However, MRI is the excellent screening tool to avoid unnecessary invasive diagnostic arthroscopies.